The Boohoo Group appears to be rather disingenuous about its priorities and its business practices. While Boohoo states that they had increased prices to suppliers over the past year due to increasing costs, the story from suppliers is very different. According to our interviews, not a single supplier we spoke to has seen any increase in pricing. Boohoo states it is committed to a ‘fair and ethical’ purchasing agreements with suppliers and work in an ‘open and transparent manner. [https://www.boohooplc.com/sites/boohoo-corp/files/2022-12/boohoo-group-plc-responsible-purchasing-practises-v1.pdf]

Alas they have not shown any evidence of this and their methodology for price calculations remains opaque. LBL has seen many supplier/Boohoo Group conversations over the years – including very recently – where suppliers have provided costings for garments and Boohoo buyers have responded with demands to reduce this by set amounts – sometimes up to a third of the costed price. When suppliers say this is not possible as it would not cover their costs, Boohoo buyers have simply said they will go elsewhere – and they do. This attitude does nothing to support suppliers and contributes to a process whereby Boohoo is simply bullying suppliers to reduce their costs. As we all know suppliers who are forced to reduce their costs, often do this by cutting corners, including lowering wages, not paying full wages, reducing or not paying other benefits and not investing in the health and safety of the factory – in order to stay in business. This is no way to run an industry.

[...]

Full rejoinder attached.

See Boohoo's response and additional comment.