Taking stock: A human rights maturity review for dps

dps sources fresh produce from more than 40 countries across six continents, supplying the shelves of the UK’s major retailers. With multiple business entities, long-standing grower relationships, and a global supply chain built over four decades, they wanted a comprehensive understanding of how human rights were being managed across that network – and where they could do more.

The challenge

In 2025, dps commissioned Inherently Human to carry out a structured review of their human rights maturity. As FNET members, they wanted an independent assessment against a recognised framework – something that would give them a true picture of their strengths and a clear steer on where to focus next.

What we did

We structured the review around the FNET Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) reporting template, giving dps a meaningful benchmark, a basis for comparison with peers, and a roadmap for the steps they could take to mature further.

Over several weeks, we spoke with 21 members of staff across dps’ different business entities – a range of people, roles, and perspectives that gave us a rich and realistic picture of the organisation. We followed the interviews with a targeted questionnaire and follow up calls and emails to fill any remaining gaps.

From there, we completed the FNET tool and prepared a findings presentation: a clear account of what the evidence showed and what it meant in practice.

What we found

dps had built strong foundations. Their dedication to ethical sourcing, the transparency they maintained across their supply chain, and their robust processes for managing the ethical approval of suppliers were all standout strengths – and ones that took real commitment to develop.

We also identified where they could go further: improving coordination across their different business entities, and tailoring their human rights approach more specifically to on-the-ground conditions in different sourcing contexts.

The outcome

Following the review, dps invited us to present our findings to their Group Trading Board in March 2026. It was a reflection of how seriously the organisation was taking the process – and of their willingness to put human rights on the agenda at the highest level.

Natalie McWilliam, Group Responsible Sourcing Director at dps, commented:

“We wanted an honest, independent picture of where our Group stood on human rights – and that’s exactly what Inherently Human gave us. The process was thorough: interviews across 21 members of staff, a structured assessment against the FNET framework, and a clear account of our strengths as well as where we could go further.

What struck us was how well Inherently Human understood our complex business structure, and the realities of sourcing fresh produce at scale. The findings were credible and practical, and we valued them enough to invite Inherently Human to present directly to our Group Trading Board. The Board gave extremely positive feedback on the session – they praised Gabbi’s ability to set the scene, and to concisely articulate both the moral and business case to further integrating human rights into our business model. It put human rights firmly on the agenda at the highest level – and gave us a clear basis for the work ahead.

A very big thank you from all of us. We have a huge amount to be grateful for, both in terms of the work itself and the way you took the time to understand our business and support us in a way that felt practical, relevant, incredibly personal and will have lasting value for us all at dps.”

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