Welcome to our compliance information page
Legal and ethical standards play an important role at Kaufland. They form the backbone of our integrity and determine our behaviour, both internally and in dealings with customers and suppliers.
Every single employee is required to comply with these standards. If you notice any rule violations or have questions about our compliance guidelines, please contact us at any time.
Here you will find all the important information.
What kind of information can I report?
You can report any suspicion of an actual or possible violation of the law. This includes violations at Kaufland, but also at our business partners, in particular:
Human Rights Violations
These include, for example, disregarding occupational health and safety standards, the statutory minimum wage, freedom of association and unequal treatment.
Criminal Offenses
These include deliberate and culpable violations of criminal law regulations (e.g. corruption, theft, fraud, money laundering)
Violations of Environmental Standards
These include, for example, soil, water and air pollution as well as the improper handling of hazardous materials.
Violations of Food Safety Laws
These include, for example, violations of hygiene regulations, incorrect product labeling and best-before dates or products that pose a risk to health.
Personnel issues
Information on personnel issues that do not relate to any of the above-mentioned violations will, after consultation with you, be forwarded to the responsible employee relations consultant in Employee Retention. These matters include stress, addiction or problems within in your team.
How am I Protected as a Whistleblower?
The confidentiality and protection of whistleblowers are a top priority for Kaufland. Those who reports a violation does not have to fear any disadvantages. Binding internal regulations were introduced years ago that apply to all whistleblowers and even go beyond the statutory requirements:
- Only employees of the Compliance department receive information
- All information is handled carefully, confidentially and in accordance with the applicable data protection laws
- Information can also be submitted anonymously
- To protect you as a whistleblower, the investigative process keeps your identity secret
- In principle, only absolutely necessary persons are consulted and information is only shared if it is absolutely necessary and legally permissible for the investigation.
The German Whistleblower Protection Act
The German Whistleblower Protection Act (Hinweisgeberschutzgesetz) provides protection from professional discrimination to any person who has received and reported information about a violation prior to or in the course of their work. At Kaufland, the obligations under the Whistleblower Protection Act (e.g., to set up an internal reporting mechanism, to ensure confidentiality, to keep proper documentation, etc.) have been met for years by virtue of its existing policies and practices. The internal reporting office at Kaufland has been set up by the Compliance Officer and her team.
Report your information to us
You would like to make a referral or report a violation? Then please use our internal reporting channels as a priority. This will help us resolve the violation quickly and efficiently.
Internal Reporting Channels
We will be happy to clarify your concerns. We provide various ways for you to get in contact, which are available 24/7 and in some cases allow you to report anonymously.
Online Reporting – Available 24/7, Anonymous Reporting Also Possible!
The system is managed by an independent provider. IP addresses and metadata are not stored. This means you cannot be traced. If you report a matter anonymously, you can set up an anonymous mailbox for further correspondence. Compliance colleagues can use the mailbox to ask you questions and exchange further information.
Compliance Department:
You can also contact your Compliance colleagues directly and in confidence. This is the fastest way to report information. You can contact them at compliance@kaufland.com
External Reporting Channels
You also have the option of contacting the federal reporting offices. These include the Federal Office of Justice, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, the Federal Cartel Office and the European Anti-Fraud Office. If the information involves a serious violation, a standard official investigation will be initiated.
Please note that reporting information to Kaufland internally is often better suited to remedy the violation as quickly as possible.
What Happens to the Information I Report?
Receipt
You can submit your information using the above contact options
Confirmation
The Compliance department will confirm receipt of your information within seven days.
Investigation
The compliance colleagues will investigate the facts and obtain further data and information - including from you as the whistleblower.
Please note: You can only be contacted for queries if you provide your contact details or set up an anonymous mailbox in the online reporting system.
Response and Resolution
If the information you disclosed is confirmed, a solution will be developed and applied. You will receive a response within three months at the latest, even if the investigation has not been completed by such time. If possible and legally permitted, you will be informed of the measures that have been or yet to be taken in response.
The entire process, from the disclosure through to the investigation, is documented in accordance with the statutory requirements. For further information on data protection, please consult the general data protection information for employees.
