Woolworths is now publishing supplier lists for its fashion-and-homeware business, and the associated David Jones and Country Road brands.
It says it is moving towards a "fully transparent and traceable supply chain", with details of where its products come from – and it breaks down the factories it uses by country.
That shows about 63% of the factories it uses are in China, versus some 13% in South Africa.
The list is not complete, Woolworths says, and does not show how much it buys from each supplier.
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As of 1 December, some 63% of the suppliers it uses in its fashion, beauty, and home business are located in China, information newly released by Woolworths shows, compared to some 13% in South Africa.
But, between those South African factories and others in the likes of Madagascar and Mauritius, Woolworths clothes are more likely to be made in an African country than in India or Bangladesh.
Woolworths is publishing its supplier lists as part of an ethical drive "towards having a fully transparent and traceable supply chain".
"By releasing this information, we aim to provide customers with greater insights into our supply chain," the company said.
Retailers have traditionally treated their supplier lists as closely-guarded secrets.
The supplier listings do not yet cover its high-volume food business, but it is providing breakdowns on its David Jones and Country Road brands, as well as its homeware and clothing retail operation.
Woolworths said it is aiming for a transparent and traceable supply chain by 2025.
The current list, of manufacturers involved in its private-label products, "is neither exclusive nor exhaustive," Woolworths warns, and is subject to change due to the seasonal nature of retail.
While the list provides an idea of the size of each manufacturer, by listing its total number of employees, there is no data on how much Woolworths buys from each.
The list also includes a location for each of 351 suppliers to the fashion, beauty, and home business. That gives some insight into the geographic spread for Woolworths suppliers – though only at the level of the number of factories.
By that count of factory numbers, China is by far the largest supplier of Woolworths clothing, makeup, and homeware; more than 220 of the 351 factories on the list are located in China, some 63% of the total.
For South Africa, the list runs to 44 factories, or 13% of the total.
Other major countries of supply include India (around 10% of factories) and Bangladesh (about 7%).
European factories also feature, with one each in Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal, and there is also one factory each in Cambodia, the Czech Republic, Pakistan, Poland, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The list shows that Woolworths products are more likely to be made in an African country than in India or Bangladesh, thanks to eight factories in Madagascar, seven in Mauritius, two in Eswatini, and one in Botswana.
By Phillip de Wet
https://www.businessinsider.co.za/woolworths-supplier-list-shows-how-many-factories-it-uses-in-china-india-2021-12
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