From risk to resilience: Holland & Barrett is transforming its supply chain with EiQ

Holland & Barrett, one of the world’s largest health and wellness retailers, is revolutionising its supply chain risk management with EiQ, the leading supply chain intelligence platform. With 1,600 stores across 18 countries, H&B says EiQ supports overcoming longstanding challenges in supply chain visibility and compliance.

“One of the biggest challenges we faced is limited visibility beyond tier one,” explains Ramesh Panavalli, Head of Responsible Sourcing and Human Rights at Holland & Barrett. With the increasing complexity of global supply chains, Panavalli adds that traditional audits often provide only static snapshots of risk, and EiQ has enabled the company to be “proactive rather than reactive.”

Supplier risk analysis and continuous monitoring

With EiQ, Holland & Barrett is taking a more proactive approach to supplier risk analysis. The platform allows the company to scan suppliers for adverse incidents before they are onboarded. EiQ’s machine learning tool conducts ongoing scans of 444,000 – and counting - suppliers globally and promptly flags emerging issues related to sanctions, labour incidents, health and safety incidents, and more, to identify incidents that may otherwise be missed from an annual audit.
Holland & Barrett also conducts impact assessments on high-risk commodities using EiQ’s product risk analysis, including goods such as fish oil and manuka honey, to ensure ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility. This dynamic approach allows Holland & Barrett to stay ahead of potential vulnerabilities and guide more informed decision-making for legacy and potential new supply chain partners.

Customised risk assessment for regulatory compliance

EiQ also supports regulatory compliance through its customised risk indices tailored to evolving legislative requirements. “As a retailer, compliance is key. We need to trace our raw materials through multiple tiers to ensure our products are ethically sourced,” Panavalli said.
Panavalli also highlighted the platform’s continuous monitoring capabilities: “If I onboard, say, 25 suppliers in a month, those same suppliers are monitored continuously in the following month.” This real-time vigilance not only keeps the company abreast of evolving risks but also ensures that the tool remains up to date with the latest regulations—thereby saving time and reducing costs.

Supplier training and collaboration

EiQ’s comprehensive, multilingual learning management system—comprised of more than 90 interactive training courses—has significantly boosted Holland & Barrett’s supplier engagement. Panavalli notes the advantages of the learning system which is that it generates auto reports and increases supplier engagement – a key for the company as it collaborates more closely with its suppliers. EiQ’s digital learning courses are designed specifically for supply chains on key sustainability topics. The platform’s management and reporting features enable you to monitor your training programme and disclose how you are educating your supply chain about critical sustainability topics.

With data drawn from more than 85 million data points and over 30,000 onsite audits per year, EiQ empowers Holland & Barrett to gain an in-depth, granular view of its risk environment, laying the foundation for a best-in-class supply chain due diligence program. Through this partnership, Holland & Barrett is setting the stage for a transformative journey toward total supply chain confidence and establishing itself as a resilient and sustainable supply chain in a rapidly evolving global market.