Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking Statement

Policy · Ethics & Sourcing

Modern Slavery &
Human Trafficking Statement

Issued by: Laverde Artisan Ltd · Company No. 16480058 · VAT GB500005280 Statement covers: Period from incorporation (28 May 2025) to 31 May 2026 — our first financial year Last reviewed: 19 May 2026

At Laverde Artisan, we built our business on a single principle: every product we sell comes from a producer we know by name, in a region we visit in person, with no layer of distributors or brokers in between. That principle is not a marketing position — it is the foundation of how we work, and it is also why the question of modern slavery in our supply chain has a clear answer.

Under Section 54 of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015, only commercial organisations with an annual turnover above £36 million are legally required to publish a slavery and human trafficking statement. Laverde Artisan Ltd is well below that threshold. We publish this statement voluntarily — because the retailers, buyers and customers who trust us deserve transparency on this question regardless of company size, and because ethical sourcing is the standard a premium food brand must hold itself to from day one.

1. Our organisation

Laverde Artisan Ltd is registered in England and Wales (company no. 16480058, VAT registration GB500005280) with its registered office at 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ. The company was incorporated on 28 May 2025 and began trading in November 2025. We operate as a direct importer of premium Sicilian and Colombian fine food, sold to UK consumers via our website and to independent retailers and hospitality clients via wholesale channels.

Operations are led by the founder, supported by a small network of contractors and AI-led systems. There is no opaque corporate layer between the company and its supply chain.

2. Our supply chain

Our products come from a small number of named producers, every one of whom is known to us personally:

  • Single-estate Biancolilla extra virgin olive oil — produced by one family in the Caltanissetta region of Sicily, on land they have farmed for generations. The harvest takes place in November each year and the oil is cold-pressed within hours of picking. We hold a direct family connection to this producer.
  • Single-apiary Sicilian wildflower honey and Sulla honey — harvested by independent beekeepers in the same region of Sicily.
  • Madrigal Colombian coffee — sourced from a small-scale Colombian roaster operating under verified producer relationships.
  • Black lentils from the Villalba region of Sicily and pistachio pasta from Bronte (forthcoming) — single-estate sources in the same Sicilian interior.

Supporting suppliers — packaging, labelling, logistics, warehousing — are based exclusively in the United Kingdom and the European Union. We do not source through anonymous brokers, commodity exchanges or unverified intermediaries. The producing family is named on the provenance card included with every product we ship.

3. Policies

Laverde Artisan holds a zero-tolerance position on modern slavery, forced labour, child labour, debt bondage and human trafficking in any form. Every supplier we work with — primary producer or service supplier — is expected to share this position as a condition of the commercial relationship.

We reserve the right to terminate any commercial relationship where credible evidence of breach emerges, and to do so without notice where the circumstances warrant.

4. Due diligence

Our due diligence approach is grounded in personal contact rather than third-party paperwork:

  • We have visited every primary producer in our supply chain in person.
  • All primary producers in Italy operate within the European Union, where labour standards are enforced under national law and EU regulation.
  • We pay our producers prices above market floor, removing the economic pressure that creates slavery risk in commodified supply chains.
  • Our Colombian coffee partner operates under verified producer relationships and is monitored through ongoing direct contact.
  • Service suppliers in the UK and EU are subject to their respective national modern slavery and labour law regimes.
  • New supplier relationships require traceable references and direct contact with operations before any commercial commitment is made.

We do not believe due diligence is best served by checkbox audits administered by third parties. We believe it is best served by knowing the people we work with, paying them properly, and visiting them in person.

5. Risk assessment

We assess modern slavery risk across our supply chain as low overall:

  • Primary Sicilian production — low risk. Small family operations in an EU regulatory environment, with established personal contact.
  • Colombian coffee — medium geographic risk, mitigated through direct relationship with the roaster, premium pricing and verified producer chain.
  • UK and EU service suppliers — low risk. Operate under stringent national labour law regimes including the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015.

The principal risk factors we monitor are: substitution of producers without disclosure; introduction of unknown intermediaries; pricing pressure that could push producers toward exploitative labour practices. None of these factors are present in our current supply chain.

6. Training and awareness

All members of the Laverde team are briefed annually on the indicators of modern slavery and on the company's commitments under this statement. The founder holds direct responsibility for primary supplier relationships and ongoing risk monitoring.

7. Measuring effectiveness

We measure the effectiveness of our approach through a small set of operational standards:

  • Zero supplier substitutions without full traceability disclosure.
  • Zero anonymous broker or commodity-exchange transactions.
  • At least one in-person visit per year to each primary producer.
  • Annual review of this statement and its commitments by the founder.

Any exceptions will be reported transparently in future versions of this statement.

Approval

This statement is made pursuant to Section 54 of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 and covers the period from incorporation (28 May 2025) to 31 May 2026, being Laverde Artisan Ltd's first financial year. It has been approved by the Director of Laverde Artisan Ltd.

Luis Laverde Founder & Director, Laverde Artisan Ltd 19 May 2026

Compliance FAQ

Is Laverde Artisan legally required to publish a Modern Slavery Statement?

No. Section 54 of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 only applies to commercial organisations with annual turnover above £36 million, and Laverde Artisan Ltd is well below that threshold. We publish this statement voluntarily because we believe ethical sourcing is the standard a premium food brand must hold itself to from day one, and because the retailers and buyers who trust us deserve transparency regardless of company size.

How does Laverde Artisan verify its supply chain is free from modern slavery?

Our verification is grounded in personal contact, not third-party audits. The founder has visited every primary producer in person. We source from a small number of named producers — predominantly small family operations in Sicily — with whom we hold ongoing direct relationships. We do not use anonymous brokers or commodity exchanges. The producing family is named on the provenance card included with every product we ship.

Does Laverde Artisan source from regions considered high-risk for modern slavery?

Our primary supply chain is in Italy and the United Kingdom, both classified as low-risk jurisdictions with robust labour law enforcement. Our Colombian coffee partner operates in a medium-risk geographic region, mitigated through direct relationship with a verified small-scale roaster, premium pricing above market floor, and ongoing direct contact. We assess overall supply chain risk as low.

How can retail buyers or compliance teams request additional supply chain documentation?

We welcome scrutiny. Retail buyers, auditors and compliance teams can request producer references, harvest records, traceability documentation, food safety certifications and insurance evidence by emailing info@laverdeartisan.com. Documentation packs are typically returned within one business day.

Questions or concerns regarding this statement, or any aspect of our sourcing and supply chain, can be directed to info@laverdeartisan.com or by post to our registered office above. We welcome scrutiny.