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27 Feb 2013: Oxfam Ranks Food Giants on
Sourcing and Environmental Policies

The group Oxfam has published an online scorecard assessing the agricultural sourcing of the world’s biggest food and beverage companies, rating them on factors that include water resource management, climate awareness, and transparency. Using publicly available information, the so-called “Behind the Brands” campaign rates the 10 companies with the largest overall revenues — including Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever, Mars, and General Mills — on their awareness and responsiveness to these issues and supply chain management. According to Oxfam's analysis, Europe-based companies Nestlé and Unilever earned the highest scores overall, receiving good marks for water management and workers’ rights. Seven of the 10 companies received the lowest possible score for land management. Associated British Foods, Kellogg’s, and General Mills received the lowest overall scores. According to Oxfam, which urges consumers to contact the companies directly with concerns, the scoreboard will be updated regularly as changes are made.“I think these companies understand that engaging stakeholders, not just shareholders, is a fact of life going forward,” Raymond C. Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America, told the New York Times. “Growing market share and customer loyalty as a result of that engagement has a direct impact on the bottom line.”

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