GRI table

GRI Guidance

LOCATION

2-1 Organizational details

VanDrie Group, officially known as Van Drie Holding b.v. is a private family business. The head office is located in Mijdrecht, the Netherlands. Legal ownership lies with three shareholders: Mr. Marinus van Drie (1965, field of interest: general affairs), Mr. Jan van Drie (1959, field of interest: purchase of calves and husbandry) and Mr. Herman van Drie (1968, field of interest: international affairs and meat production). The three shareholders are employed at least until retirement age. No specific appointment terms have therefore been formulated. There is no remuneration policy in place for the shareholders. This also applies to the allocation of performance bonuses or variable rewards. An inseparable part of the decision making process of the three shareholders is the consideration of the impacts on natural, economic and social capitals. No supervisory board/body has been appointed. The VanDrie Group has operations in five EU member states namely: The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and Italy. See also chapter ‘About the VanDrie Group´ of the report. The VanDrie Group has business relations and exports to more than 75 countries, mainly on the European continent.

2-2 Entities included in the organization’s sustainability reporting

The financial statements are based on the Van Drie Holding's results. For statements about the results see 'Summary' and ‘About VanDrie Group’ in the report. The specified turnover data can be found in the VanDrie Group's financial annual report. The financial report 2022 is filed with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. The entities included in this report can be found in our organigram in chapter 'About VanDrie Group'.

2-4 Restatements of information

An amendment to the calculation method for antibiotics reduction was applied on the basis of progressive insight. For the comparison of antibiotics, this means that the percentage reduction in 2023 is calculated differently compared to previous years. Therefore, in the 2023 annual report, when referring to previous years a recalculation over this year(s) will be used.

2-5 External assurance

See the chapter 'Assurance' in the CSR report 2023. External assurance over the CSR report 2023 will be provided in the fall of 2024. Any changes are subsequently adjusted accordingly. 

2-6 Activities, value chain and other business relationships

A description of the supply chain is given in the chapter ´About the VanDrie Group´. Also see the value creation model in the report. Chain responsibility is supervised via the Safety Guard, the quality system of the VanDrie Group. Safety Guard entails different specific norms (ISO22000, ISO14001, IFS, GMP+). This enables the company to identify potential risks or irregulations related to the own activities in the chain or those of its partners at an early stage. Safety Guard is supervised by the VanDrie Group central Quality Department which also monitors the implementation of the measures. Should risks arise, the relevant affected stakeholders will be informed in an appropriate manner and without delay. In the case of risks of greater social importance, public communication is done via the corporate website of the company. In principle the VanDrie Group contributes to recovery procedures in the event of misconduct. No significant changes have occurred this reporting year compared to previous reporting years

2-7 Employees

The average total amount of employees in 2023 was ± 2700 of which ± 75% male, ± 25% female. Of the employees had ± 90% a permanent employment contract. Almost all Dutch employees are subject to a collective labour agreement. See 'Summary´ of the report. The VanDrie Group didn’t report data based on type of contract (permanent/temporary) and gender and/or region nor employment type (full-time/part-time) by gender.

2-8 Workers who are not employees

Within the VanDrie Group there are workers active who are not employees. In 2023 this were ± 1700 workers. These workers are mainly active in the meat processing plants and other companies of the VanDrie Group (both in the Netherlands and France). No significant changes have occurred this reporting year compared to previous reporting years

2-9 Governance structure and composition

The Directors meeting - In which the Board of Directors and various directors of the VanDrie Group companies are represented - takes place at least five times a year. The purpose of this consultation is to evaluate draft policy and policy implementation, and to initiate new operations. The group’s various operating companies are managed from the forum of this meeting.

2-11 Chair of the highest governance body

Chair of the Board of directors is Mr. Marinus van Drie. See GRI 2-1

2-12 Role of the highest governance body in overseeing the management of impacts

The Board of Directors of the VanDrie Group is involved in ensuring sustainable practices across all operations. They emphasize the importance of integrating ESG criteria into the company’s strategic pillars. This commitment is reflected in their 2023 activities, where they worked together in prioritizing, sharpening and adding indicators to make the step towards reporting according to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

2-13 Delegation of responsibility for managing impacts

The delegation of responsibilities starts from the Board of Directors, which sets the strategic direction and oversees the overall sustainability framework. The Directors of company entities have been deligated with ensuring that the sustainability goals on entity level align with broader corporate objectives and regulatory requirements. Providing information to the directors of the company entities, overseeing and discussing the outcome at entity level is operationalized through a sustainability steering group in which all parts of the chain and countries in which the VanDrie Group is present ( in line with GRI 2-1) are represented. this steering group's key responsibilities are implementing and monitoring a ESG framework in accordance with upcoming laws and directives over the whole organisation. The steering group reports back via its chair to the Director Corporate Affairs and Quality, who within the Directors meeting is responsible for ESG policies.

2-14 Role of the highest governance body
in sustainability reporting

At VanDrie Group, individual members of the Board of Directors play various roles in the sustainability reporting process, particularly in areas where they have specific expertise. Their insights and vision are ensuring that the report reflects comprehensive and informed perspectives on the company's sustainability initiatives. The preparation of the sustainability report is primarily handled by the Corporate Affairs department, which compiles and drafts the report based on data collected from various parts of the organization. This draft is then reviewed and enhanced with the expertise of individual board members. Before publication, the complete report is presented to the Board of Directors for approval.

2-15 Conflicts of interest

The requirements of the highest governance body and the shareholders are aligned due to the fact that that the company is a family owned company in which the board of directors are the same as the shareholders and equally divided. The company has adopted shareholders agreement in which potential conflict of interest is managed.

2-16 Communication of critical concerns

The communication of critical concerns is handled on the basis to ensure that potential issues are addressed promptly and effectively. To support this, the organisation has established various channels and protocols to facilitate the communication of such concerns. While most of this channels are entitity based, VanDrie Group has implemented Speak up, which allows for confidential reporting of issues, including potential ethical breaches and safety risks.

2-17 Collective knowledge of the highest governance body

The Board of Directors comprises Directors with varied backgrounds and skills including experience in line with our five strategic pillars and industry-specific knowledge. To further enhance collective knowledge, board members participate in company visits, workshops, and industry conferences. The Board of Directors also benefits from regular briefings and reports prepared by various experts from within or outside the company. this information provide additional information on complex topics, helping the Board of Directors to guide the company in a informed manner.

2-18 Evaluation of the performance of the highest governance body

No specific policy on evaluation of the performance of the Board have been formulated.

2-19 Remuneration policies

There is no specific Board-based remuneration policy in place for Board members.

2-20 Process to determine remuneration

No specific terms to determine remuneration for Board members have been formulated.

2-21 Annual total compensation ratio

Under the exemption of Article 383(1) of the Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek) 2, disclosure of the director's remuneration is omitted.

2-22 Statement on sustainable development strategy

The CSR report 2023 contains a 'foreword' by the Director Corporate Affairs and Quality VanDrie Group.

2-23 Policy commitments

The CSR report 2023 contains the statement about VanDrie Group’s intrinsic motivation to incorporate the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in its strategic policy and daily operations. See f.e. the model of value creation. The report contains a chapter about risk management and due diligence in which the organization’s performance concerning i.a. human rights, corruption, labour rights and animal welfare is being described.

2-24 Embedding policy commitments

In the coming years different formalized procedures will be developed and implemented.

2-25 Processes to remediate negative impacts

Should negative impacts arise, the relevant, affected stakeholders will be informed in an appropriate manner. In the case of risks that are of greater social importance, we communicate to the public via the VanDrie Group's corporate website. In principle, the VanDrie Group contributes to remedial procedures when abuses or malpractice occur. Futher governance on this topic needs to be developed.

2-26 Mechanisms for seeking advice and raising concerns

VanDrie Group has implemented Speak up, which allows for confidential reporting of issues, including potential ethical breaches and safety risks. This tool can be used by both internal as external stakeholders.

2-27 Compliance with laws and regulations

See chapter 'due-diligence-and-risk-management' for material risks and how we comply with these. For identified cases of non-compliance, see 'Our results'.

2-28 Membership associations

The VanDrie Group is member of the International Meat Secretariat (IMS), Roundtable for Sustainable Palmoil (RSPO), Dutch Central Organization for the Meat Sector (COV), Nevedi (Dutch Feed Industry), the Foundation for Quality Guarantee of the Veal Sector (SKV), the Foundation Branch organization of the Veal Sector (SBK), and affiliated with the Confederation of Dutch Industry and Employers (VNO NCW), partner of the knowledge intensive community FoodValley.

2-29 Approach to stakeholder engagement

Via social media and the website the company shares news about its production chain, events and markets. The VanDrie Group attends several exhibitions for consumers and B2B relations. See for more information the chapter 'Exploiting our social role’. In this chapter is also a table incorporated which shows the engagements per stakeholder type and the frequency. The company uses the materiality matrix as a basis for its report. On the one hand, as a means of validating our current strategy with them and map out themes on which we need to focus at a strategic level. On the other hand, as a means of determining which CSR themes we need to report on annually.

2-30 Collective bargaining agreements

See GRI 2-7

GRI 3: Material Topics 2021

3-1 Process to determine material topics

The VanDrie Group materiality matrix was updated in 2021. The materiality matrix identifies the most important issues and the influence on stakeholders and the significance for the VanDrie Group. See chapter ‘Using our social role’ in the CSR report 2023. The report contains a table in which the different material aspects as discussed with the stakeholder groups are mentioned, via which platform this has been taken place and its outcome on the VanDrie Group’s policy. In the chapter ‘The world around us’ the VanDrie Group gives insight into the main future challenges and also about technological political, social and economic impacts that significantly affect the organization and the group’s stakeholders.

3-2 List of material topics

See chapter 'using our social role' for the material topics for the VanDrie Group, based on the materiality matrix as updated in 2021.hese are: strategic innovation; responsible corporate governance and ethics; circular production; greenhouse gas emissions in the supply chain; transparency and traceability; animal health and welfare in the supply chain; safety, health and welfare of our employees; and attracting, retaining and training our employees. No changes in material topics or its definition took place for this report as compared with the previous report over 2022.