Health and safety at work

Protecting employee health and safety is a constant priority, particularly in operations where the risk of work-related injuries and ill health is highest. This concern is addressed through strict compliance with applicable laws and the implementation of a comprehensive Health and Safety at Work (HSW) management system. This system incorporates the best practices in risk assessment and management, as well as effective procedures for managing work-related injuries and ill health. In 2025, the Group’s entire workforce was covered by an HSW management system.

We have formal risk prevention and mitigation policies, processes and procedures that guide the actions of our teams in managing risks, work-related injuries and ill health. We also conduct audits, drills, training and awareness-raising initiatives to encourage safe behaviours.

Key incident indicators

Of the 4,499 recordable work-related injuries in 2025, approximately 39 were of high consequence, resulting in a rate of 19.19 and 0.17 respectively, an improvement on 2024 (19.56 and 0.22). In the case of workers who are not employees, there were 320 recordable work-related injuries. There were no fatalities among employees or workers who are not employees.

Regarding work-related ill health, 202 cases were recorded in 2025, around 85 more than in 2024.

Risk identification and assessment

Local HSW teams are responsible for identifying and assessing risks, a continuous process that results in a risk matrix that covers all assessed areas and processes. It includes the collection of information about the circumstances, causes, effects, levels of exposure, severity and risk, and recommendations of the most appropriate mitigation or corrective measures. The identified risks include environmental hazards (physical, chemical, and biological), as well as mechanical, electrical, fire and/or explosion, ergonomic, psycho-social, and organisational risks.

Employees working in warehouses, kitchens, industrial units, and stores are exposed to specific risks associated with the loading and unloading of goods, product storage and processing activities (e.g., cutting fish and meat, bread production, and meal preparation). Jerónimo Martins Agro-Alimentar employees work in the primary and secondary sectors and are also exposed to specific risk factors, including exposure to adverse thermal environments (which may lead to vascular injuries), physical exertion (which may lead to musculoskeletal injuries), and contact with machinery (which may result in trauma, wounds and electrocution).

Risk identification and assessment, and the respective findings, help improve the HSW management system by:

• defining work processes;

• selecting equipment and work tools;

• preparing procedures and work instructions;

• structuring training content;

• defining action plans.

Risk control measures

Work and personal protective equipment

Work and personal protective equipment is selected based on an assessment of the risks identified for each role and activity. All equipment is tested by users/employees and subject to a technical assessment before widespread adoption. In 2025, we continued to upgrade safety equipment, focusing on solutions to prevent chemical hazards, equipment for working at height and specialised gear for underwater operations. Whenever new equipment is introduced, the safety requirements are defined in advance and checked after installation, ensuring that they comply with the applicable regulations. The equipment manufacturer and representative also train the teams.

Our Companies continuously monitor the need to replace equipment and conduct regular testing to prevent work-related injuries and ill health. In 2025, ergonomic improvements were implemented in several workstations, including adjustable furniture, additional electric equipment for load handling, more ergonomic workbenches, and the development of an accessory for cutting large fish.

Self-protection measures

Self-protection measures are essential for testing the effectiveness of safety records, emergency plans and prevention procedures. Emergency teams receive specialised training and, in 2025, were provided with new equipment appropriate to the risk profile of each workplace.

In Portugal, the Pingo Doce “Prevenir para não cair” (Safety First, Avoid the Worst) and Recheio “Segurança em Ação” (Safety in Action) programmes involve store teams in weekly safety observations and encourage the adoption of safe behaviours, and include close monitoring and immediate intervention when risk behaviours are identified.

In Colombia, the “Mi CEDI Seguro” (My Safe Distribution Centre) programme includes daily inspections, monthly safety observations, warm-up exercises before each shift, and training for new employees, with the support of emergency brigades. These brigades are made up of employees certified to conduct drills, support safety initiatives, and provide assistance in emergency situations. Ara also has 144 identified HSW leaders trained in safe behaviours and the “Atento” observation tool.

Training and awareness-raising

Employees have access to an HSW training programme tailored to the risks inherent in their jobs. The training programme is reviewed each year and includes key moments in an employee’s career, such as when they are hired, when they change jobs, when new equipment or tools are introduced or when existing ones are modified.

In Portugal, the Impact programme, created in 2023 for all Companies in the country, trained 79 managers and 205 safety delegates throughout 2025. The Impact programme has two components:

• Safety Labs – training sessions led by the Company’s safety officers to teach safety delegates how to encourage teams to adopt safe behaviours and cultivate a self-care approach;

• Leadership with Impact – for operations managers (stores, logistics and central kitchens), given their role in transforming team behaviours, demonstrating that humanised leadership can more easily influence employees to adopt safe behaviours, thus preventing work-related injuries and ill health.

At Poland, the Biedronkowa Akademia Zdrowia (Biedronka Health Academy) focuses on the prevention of work-related ill health. Health and safety training sessions are led by physiotherapists who teach employees how to prevent musculoskeletal injuries, do daily warm-up exercises, and facilitate physiotherapy appointments. In 2025, a total of 4,254 employees were trained and 31,055 appointments were facilitated.

In Colombia, a pilot of the “Prepara tu Cuerpo” (Prepare Your Body) programme was launched in two distribution centres and 36 stores to raise awareness and train employees on the importance of exercises to prevent musculoskeletal disorders.

Health

Employee health is monitored by doctors who specialise in occupational health, who perform health assessments at the start of employment, as well as regular and periodic examinations to assess the physical and mental fitness of employees throughout their professional lives. In 2025, we conducted 146,153 occupational health assessments.

In Portugal, we have two mobile health units – vehicles that have been converted into fully-equipped medical offices – that complement the in-house consultation rooms in some workplaces. In 2025, these mobile units assisted 4,652 employees.

Continuous improvement of the health and safety at work management system

We ensure the continuous improvement of our Health and Safety at Work (HSW) management systems by regularly verifying and reviewing the effectiveness of risk control measures.

Audits – regular assessments of all operational units to analyse the factors that can lead to accidents or incidents, monitor corrective measures, communicate the outcome to stakeholders, and follow up on corrective action plans until they are completed.

Drills – regular and controlled exercises to test self-protection procedures and identify potential deficiencies and minimise the risk of errors in emergency response.

Accident investigation – whenever an incident occurs, a detailed assessment is conducted to ascertain the facts, circumstances, and plausible causes, with corrective action plans designed, implemented and monitored to prevent it from happening again. This process strengthens organisational learning and the continuous improvement of safety practices.

Employee consultation and engagement – we conduct annual surveys relating to equipment, working conditions, protection measures and the performance of HSW teams. In Portugal, employees are invited to share their opinion in two surveys each year, while in Poland and Colombia HSW Committees – comprising employee representatives and representatives of HSW teams – meet regularly to discuss and implement improvements. The analysis of the responses to these surveys helps identify areas for improvement and define concrete measures aligned with operational needs.

Certification of HSW management systems – certification of HSW management systems ensures alignment with international best practices. At Biedronka, the system is certified to ISO 45001:2018 and covers all 3,936 workplaces (stores, distribution centres, soup factory and offices). A total of 1,724 new work instructions were implemented to improve team protection in 2025. In Portugal, the Terra Alegre dairy factory has its HSW management system certified to ISO 45001:2019, and Pingo Doce’s two central kitchens are certified to ISO 45001:2023, as are the logistics centres, which received the same certification in 2025.¹

¹ All the standards mentioned relate to Health and Safety at Work (HSW) management systems and focus on an integrated risk-based approach, emphasising leadership, worker participation and integration with top management. To learn more about the ISO 45000 family of standards, visit the official website of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).