In retail, supply chain management often prioritises fast-moving consumer goods due to the critical nature of stock availability, recalls, and transparency. Historically, GNFR (Goods Not For Resale) categories, such as IT, marketing, logistics, and facilities management, have been viewed differently. They were often seen as the “enablers” of retail operations rather than drivers of sales.
Yet GNFR is changing. It now plays an increasingly influential role in shaping why and how customers choose to purchase, sometimes as much as, or even more than, the products themselves. For retailers, this evolution presents both an opportunity and a challenge: procurement teams must now maintain visibility, compliance, and risk management across indirect suppliers to ensure GNFR delivers value, not just functionality.
Without centralised oversight, fragmented GNFR supply chains can lead to operational disruptions, reputational issues, and regulatory concerns. Getting visibility and assurance in these categories is now a key part of modern retail strategy.
The GNFR Supply Chain Challenge
Indirect procurement is typically spread across multiple functions. Each function sources its own suppliers, with varying levels of compliance maturity. Compliance information is often stored locally, leaving procurement teams without a centralised view of supplier standards.
Common challenges include:
- Fragmented ownership across categories
- Inconsistent compliance data across suppliers
- Risk issues detected too late, impacting operations or reputation
GNFR procurement teams need a unified, risk-based approach to gain visibility and assurance across all supplier categories.
Starting with the Fundamentals
The first step in effective GNFR supply-chain assurance is getting the basics right. Every supplier, regardless of category, should meet baseline ethical, legal, and operational standards, including:
- Compliance with minimum wage legislation
- Modern slavery prevention
- Core health, safety, and legal requirements
Centralising compliance data transforms fragmented oversight into actionable insight, giving procurement teams the confidence that all suppliers meet core expectations.
Tailoring Assurance to Each Category
Once fundamentals are in place, organisations can implement a risk-based, category-specific approach, tailored to the unique risks of each GNFR function:
- Marketing: Basic pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) to confirm compliance with essentials
- IT: Enhanced PQQ including cybersecurity and data protection assessments
- Facilities Management & Property: Health and safety audits to ensure contractor competence and environmental compliance
- Logistics & Services: Ethical employment audits focused on worker welfare and responsible labour practices
This flexible framework allows organisations to scale from fundamental compliance checks to advanced, risk-based assurance for each category.
Achieving Centralised Visibility
Standardised reporting and centralised data capture enable procurement teams to:
- Quickly identify supplier non-compliances
- Maintain a single, unified view across all GNFR categories
- Establish a scalable, continuous improvement framework
Centralised visibility allows retailers to proactively mitigate supplier risk, enhance accountability, and improve operational efficiency.
Key Takeaways
- Centralise Compliance Data: Gather information from all GNFR suppliers in one place.
- Start with Fundamentals: Ensure baseline ethical, legal, and operational requirements are met.
- Scale with Risk: Apply category-specific, risk-based assurance tailored to supplier risks.
- Standardise Reporting: Use data to track trends, assess risk, and guide decisions.
Effective GNFR supply-chain assurance starts with the basics, building a foundation for proactive risk management and stronger supplier relationships.