Video: Modern slavery in logistics – ‘your grocery delivery could be breaking the law’

“Would you be comfortable if your Waitrose groceries arrived at your door courtesy of a modern slave?
For many UK consumers, that’s the unspoken possibility.”

That’s the striking question being posed in a new video, ‘Who’s doing the work?’, which sees Ben Knowles, CEO of Pedal Me, “aiming to tackle modern slavery in logistics.”

The big – uncomfortable – ‘gig economy’ conversation

Pedal Me, the UK’s first FORS-accredited cargo bike logistics company, has today launched a bold public awareness campaign highlighting the uncomfortable truth: leading retailers risk breaching UK Modern Slavery law when they outsource last-mile deliveries to companies like Deliveroo and other gig-based operators with opaque supply chains.

The law is clear – under the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015, companies have a duty to ensure their supply chains are free from forced labour and exploitation. Yet in food delivery, numerous press investigations have uncovered systemic illegal working, wage theft, and dangerous working conditions. Industry insiders have long known that many platforms fail to verify workers’ right to work or enforce basic safety standards.

Knowle warns: “When a big supermarket hands over their customer deliveries to an operator that looks the other way on exploitation, they’re not just risking PR embarrassment – they could be committing a criminal offence. We run our business 100% with employees, properly trained, properly insured, and properly paid. If Waitrose, Co-op or any retailer wants to be sure their deliveries are legal – and ethical – they need to work with providers like us.”

Exploited workers in focus

The company’s new campaign video, Your Deliveries Could Breach the Law – Ours Don’t, makes the point bluntly: if you’re getting groceries, hot meals, or online orders delivered in London, you might be part of a chain that includes underpaid and exploited workers.

Pedal Me’s approach is different:
• 100% employees – no gig workers, no loopholes.
• Full legal compliance – rigorous right-to-work checks and full PAYE employment.
• Ethical logistics at scale – high on-time delivery rates and the ability to handle everything from hot food to pallet loads without cutting corners.

This isn’t just an ethics issue – it’s a legal one. Retailers caught in breach face unlimited fines, criminal liability, and irreparable brand damage. The public is starting to connect the dots, and journalists are asking questions.

About Pedal Me

“Pedal Me is London’s most reliable, ethical cargo bike logistics service, combining industry-leading dispatch technology with a fully employed, highly trained team. The company delivers everything from restaurant meals to large commercial consignments, replacing vans and lorries with safe, sustainable, and lawful transport.”