Morrisons Political Audit

1. Executive Intelligence Summary

Target Entity: Wm Morrisons Supermarkets Limited (Morrisons)

Parent Entity: Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R)

Audit Classification: High Political Exposure / Material Complicity

Primary Risk Vectors: Tech-Militarization (Trigo/IDF), Settlement Trade (Hadiklaim/Mehadrin), Governance Ideology (CD&R/Leahy).

This forensic audit evaluates the political and ideological footprint of Wm Morrisons Supermarkets Ltd. (Morrisons) to determine its “Political Complicity” regarding the occupation of Palestine and the normalization of Israeli state militarism. The analysis synthesizes governance structures, supply chain logistics, technological partnerships, and corporate discourse to assign a compliance score based on the provided rubric. The investigation proceeds from the premise that corporate neutrality is a specific, active posture rather than a passive default, particularly when transnational capital flows and supply chains intersect with zones of military occupation and apartheid.

The investigation reveals that Morrisons has transcended the status of a neutral commercial actor. Through its ownership structure under Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), the supermarket chain is integrated into a capital ecosystem that actively courts Israeli private market investment.¹ Furthermore, Morrisons has operationalized a strategic partnership with Trigo Vision, a surveillance technology firm founded by former commanders of Israel’s elite military intelligence units (Unit 8200 and Sayeret Matkal).² This partnership, codenamed “Project Sarah,” represents a direct importation of military-grade surveillance architecture into the UK civilian retail space, effectively sanitizing and monetizing technologies developed for occupation and control.⁴

Supply chain analysis confirms the continued sourcing of agricultural produce from companies operating within illegal West Bank settlements, specifically Hadiklaim and Mehadrin.⁶ Despite corporate assurances of “traceability,” evidence points to systemic mislabeling designed to obfuscate the origin of goods produced on stolen land, facilitating their entry into the UK market under the guise of “Produce of Israel”.⁸

Based on the cumulative weight of technological integration, supply chain obfuscation, and governance alignment with pro-Israel advocacy networks, Morrisons acts as a conduit for the normalization of the Israeli economy. The entity actively leverages Israeli military service heritage (via Trigo) as a corporate asset for innovation, normalizes the occupation apparatus, and maintains institutional memberships (British-Israel Chamber of Commerce) that align its brand with Israeli state interests.¹⁰

2. Strategic Governance and Private Equity Bias

The ideological orientation of a corporation is frequently a downstream effect of its ownership and governance board. Since the takeover of Morrisons by the US private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), the supermarket’s geopolitical alignment has shifted closer to trans-Atlantic capital networks with deep ties to the Israeli economy. Understanding the parent company’s strategic outlook is essential for interpreting the subsidiary’s operational decisions.

2.1. Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R): The Capital Nexus

Morrisons is wholly owned by CD&R, a private equity giant with a distinct strategy of engaging with the Israeli market. Unlike passive investment funds that may hold incidental Israeli stocks, CD&R has demonstrated an active, strategic commitment to the Israeli economy, viewing it as a critical growth engine for private capital.¹ This is not merely incidental portfolio exposure but a deliberate strategic orientation that views the Israeli market—and by extension, its tech and security sectors—as a fertile ground for “creating alpha.”

In July 2022, CD&R participated significantly in the “Israel Private Markets Summit” in Tel Aviv.¹ This event, hosted by Leader Capital, was designed to deepen ties between global fund managers and the Israeli economy, highlighting a record level of private capital allocation to the region.¹ The summit served as a high-level interface between Israeli limited partners (LPs) and global general partners (GPs), facilitating the flow of institutional capital into and out of the Israeli state.¹

Key to this alignment is Roberto Quarta, a CD&R Partner and Chairman of CD&R Europe.¹ Quarta delivered the keynote address at the summit, titled “Creating Alpha in Private Equity – The Value of Operational Experience”.¹ In his address, Quarta framed private equity as “risk capital” essential for navigating macroeconomic challenges, arguing that private capital must be strategic to corporate business owners.¹ The presence of CD&R’s European Chairman in Tel Aviv, explicitly courting Israeli institutional investment and presenting CD&R as a partner for Israeli economic growth, establishes a clear governance mandate.

This active courtship of Israeli capital creates a “structural bias” within the CD&R portfolio. When the parent company is deeply enmeshed in the Israeli financial ecosystem, subsidiaries like Morrisons are naturally incentivized to view Israeli partnerships not as political liabilities, but as synergistic opportunities. The decision to partner with Israeli tech firms (discussed in Section 4) must be viewed through this lens: it is consistent with the parent company’s broader strategy of integrating with the “Start-Up Nation” economy, purposefully ignoring the military occupation that underpins that innovation sector.

2.2. Governance Architecture and Ideological Permissiveness

The governance structure of CD&R suggests a high level of integration with global political and economic elites who favor the status quo regarding Israel. The firm manages investments of more than $40 billion and has a history of acquiring industrial and consumer businesses, restructuring them, and effectively embedding them into global financial circuits.¹

By headlining major investment summits in Tel Aviv, CD&R signals to the market that it views Israel not merely as a jurisdiction for investment, but as a strategic partner. This activity normalizes the Israeli economy, decoupling its technological and financial sectors from the context of military occupation and apartheid. For Morrisons, this ownership structure means that profits generated by UK shoppers are repatriated to a parent company that is actively strengthening the financial resilience of the Israeli state through direct market engagement.

Table 1: Governance & Ownership Structure Analysis

3. The Leahy Doctrine: Ideological Architecture

A critical figure in the governance analysis is Sir Terry Leahy, a Senior Advisor to CD&R and the former CEO of Tesco.²⁰ Leahy was instrumental in the CD&R takeover of Morrisons and remains a central figure in the firm’s retail strategy. His political footprint indicates a long-standing alignment with Zionist advocacy groups within the UK political establishment.

3.1. Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) Affiliation

Sir Terry Leahy has been documented as a guest at dinners and events associated with the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI), a parliamentary group dedicated to strengthening ties between the British Conservative Party and the Israeli Likud party.²² The CFI is described by political commentators as one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Westminster, with a specific mandate to advance Israel’s interests in Britain.²³ It claims that 80% of Conservative MPs are members, creating a formidable bloc of support for Israeli policies.²³

Leahy’s association with this group is not merely social; it reflects a specific ideological commitment. The CFI works to combat “delegitimization” of Israel and promotes bilateral trade.²³ By participating in this ecosystem, Leahy aligns himself with a political project that actively shields Israel from accountability for its violations of international law. This alignment suggests that under his advisement, Morrisons is unlikely to entertain any ethical considerations regarding the occupation that might contradict the CFI’s staunchly pro-Israel stance.

3.2. Trade Missions and Economic Normalization

Leahy has a history of participating in trade missions that normalize economic relations with states often criticized for human rights records, framing these relationships purely in terms of “value” and “innovation.” He has participated in delegations to the UAE and has been a vocal proponent of globalized supply chains.²⁵

In the context of Israel, Leahy’s philosophy of “supply chain value” likely drives the continued sourcing of Israeli produce. His tenure at Tesco saw the supermarket repackaging settlement dates from Hadiklaim as own-brand products ²⁷, a practice that has seemingly continued or been replicated at Morrisons under CD&R ownership. The “Leahy Doctrine” can be summarized as the prioritization of commercial efficiency over geopolitical ethics, where the “Start-Up Nation” (Israel) is viewed as a source of technological and agricultural advantage, and the occupation is dismissed as a political irrelevance.

3.3. Political Donations and Influence

Leahy is a significant donor to the Conservative Party.²⁸ His financial support for a party that has consistently shielded Israel from diplomatic censure further cements the ideological bias at the top of Morrisons’ governance structure. His appointment to advisory councils on business policy ²⁹ indicates his ability to shape the regulatory environment in which Morrisons operates, potentially lobbying against regulations that would require stricter labeling of settlement goods or impose sanctions on rights violators.

Governance Risk Assessment: Leahy’s involvement with the CFI and his role as a senior advisor to Morrisons’ parent company suggests that the ideological bias at the top of the governance structure is not neutral. His influence creates a “permissive environment” for pro-Israel partnerships (such as the Trigo deal) and buffers the company against ethical pressure regarding supply chain complicity.

4. Executive Leadership and the Carrefour Inheritance

The appointment of Rami Baitiéh as CEO of Morrisons represents a significant continuity of normalization strategies. Baitiéh joined Morrisons from Carrefour, a French multinational retailer that has been the subject of intense global boycotts due to its complicity in the Israeli occupation.³⁰

4.1. The Carrefour Precedent

During Baitiéh’s tenure in senior leadership roles at Carrefour (including CEO of Carrefour France), the company deepened its ties with the Israeli market. In March 2022, Carrefour entered into a partnership with Electra Consumer Products and Yenot Bitan, both of which are active in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.¹⁸ This partnership was not passive; it involved the branding of stores in Israel and the direct sale of Carrefour products in settlement branches.

Furthermore, in 2024, Carrefour Israel was reported to have sent over 6,000 packages of food donations to IDF soldiers engaged in the bombardment of Gaza.¹⁸ This act of material support for a military engaged in actions described by international bodies as potential genocide triggered widespread boycotts across the Middle East, forcing Carrefour to close stores in Jordan and rebrand in other Arab nations.³²

4.2. Operational Continuity at Morrisons

Rami Baitiéh’s transition to Morrisons brings with it a management philosophy that views the Israeli market—including its settlement enterprise—as a standard commercial opportunity. There is no evidence to suggest he has repudiated the strategies employed at Carrefour; rather, the rapid deepening of Morrisons’ ties to Israeli tech firms suggests a continuation of this policy.

Baitiéh is known for his “customer-centric” and “data-driven” approach.¹⁹ In the context of the Trigo partnership (discussed below), this focus on efficiency and data capture aligns perfectly with the capabilities offered by Israeli military-grade surveillance tech. His leadership likely accelerates the adoption of such technologies, viewing them through the lens of operational efficiency while ignoring their provenance in the occupation apparatus.

Governance Risk Assessment: Baitiéh’s executive pedigree is forged in an environment where corporate support for the Israeli military apparatus was normalized. His leadership at Morrisons presents a high risk of continued and deepened complicity, as he applies the same expansionist and normalization strategies that characterized Carrefour’s controversial engagement with Israel.

5. Technological Militarization: The Trigo Dossier

The most significant indicator of Morrisons’ shift toward “Ideological Marketing” and “Militaristic Branding” is its strategic partnership with Trigo Vision (branded as Trigo). This partnership, known internally as “Project Sarah,” involves the deployment of cashierless, surveillance-based shopping technology in Morrisons stores.⁴

5.1. The “Unit 8200” Pipeline

Trigo Vision is not a standard software vendor. It was founded in 2018 by brothers Michael and Daniel Gabay.³⁵ Michael Gabay is a veteran of the Sayeret Matkal (General Staff Reconnaissance Unit) and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Intelligence Corps, specifically leading technology development groups.³ The company’s intellectual property is derived from “battle-tested” technologies developed for military surveillance, target acquisition, and population control.

• Technology Transfer: The system uses ceiling-mounted cameras and computer vision algorithms to create a 3D model of the store and track the movements and interactions of every individual within the space.⁴ This is a direct adaptation of military tracking systems used to monitor Palestinians in the occupied territories. The algorithms designed to identify “threats” or track “targets” in a crowded casbah are repurposed to track “shoppers” and identify “products” in a supermarket aisle.
• Corporate Narrative: Trigo and its partners frequently allude to the military origins of their tech as a badge of quality. Gabay explicitly links the efficiency of the technology to the “amazing things” done in the army, stating: “I couldn’t believe that in a country like ours, where we do such amazing things in the army, we still have to stand in line at the checkout counter”.³ This rhetoric actively reframes the military apparatus—an instrument of occupation—as a source of benevolent innovation.

5.2. Project Sarah: Importing the Occupation

Morrisons has piloted this technology at its headquarters in Bradford, a project internally codenamed “Project Sarah”.⁴ This pilot involves a store with no checkouts, where customers (or staff during the trial) are tracked by cameras that record which items they pick up.⁵

• Deployment Strategy: The technology is designed to be “transportable,” allowing it to be deployed in university campuses, train stations, and urban high streets.⁵ Morrisons plans to roll out dozens of these small stores.⁴
• Surveillance Implications: By integrating Trigo’s systems, Morrisons is normalizing the concept of ubiquitous biometric and behavioral surveillance. The technology creates a “panopticon” retail environment where every gesture is analyzed. This mirrors the surveillance reality imposed on Palestinians, now repackaged as “frictionless convenience” for the British consumer.

5.3. Economic and Strategic Support

This partnership is not merely a purchase of services; it is a strategic investment in the Israeli defense-tech sector.

• Revenue Flow: The contracts with Morrisons provide vital revenue to Trigo, helping it to scale and compete with Amazon.²
• Legitimacy: A major UK retailer adopting this technology validates the “dual-use” model, where Israeli military officers transition into the tech sector, monetizing their occupation-honed skills. This supports the economic viability of the Israeli military-industrial complex.
• Data Sovereignty Risks: The deployment of Israeli intelligence-linked surveillance systems in UK infrastructure raises significant questions about data privacy and national security. Israeli cyber companies have been implicated in global surveillance scandals ³⁹, and the integration of such systems into the UK’s food supply infrastructure represents a potential vulnerability.

Assessment: This vector pushes Morrisons into the Band 6 category. The company is not just “buying Israeli”; it is integrating the logic of the occupation (surveillance, tracking, algorithmic control) into its core business model. It effectively launders military technology, presenting it as a benign consumer upgrade.

Table 2: Technological Partnership Analysis (Trigo Vision)

6. Forensic Supply Chain Audit: The Settlement Nexus

Morrisons has maintained a consistent trade relationship with Israeli agricultural exporters known to operate in the illegal settlements of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley. Despite periodic claims of “traceability” and “ethical auditing,” the evidence suggests a systemic failure—or refusal—to exclude settlement goods from the supply chain. The sourcing of fresh produce, particularly Medjool dates, reveals a pattern of obfuscation and “laundering” of goods produced on stolen land.

6.1. The “Dates” Controversy: Hadiklaim and Mehadrin

The sourcing of Medjool dates is the most persistent and documented area of complicity. Research identifies two primary suppliers for Morrisons: Hadiklaim (Israel Date Growers Cooperative) and Mehadrin.⁶

• Hadiklaim: This cooperative includes illegal settler plantations. Its brands (Jordan River, King Solomon) and white-label products for supermarkets are frequently sourced from the Jordan Valley settlements like Tomer and Beqa’ot.⁶ Hadiklaim supplies dates to Morrisons for its own-label products.⁶
• Mehadrin: Israel’s largest fresh produce exporter, Mehadrin operates extensively in the occupied territories. It has been documented storing produce in settlement packing houses while labeling it as “Produce of Israel” to avoid EU/UK settlement tariffs and consumer boycotts.⁷

6.2. Systemic Mislabeling and “Laundering”

A critical finding is the “laundering” of settlement goods. Investigations by Corporate Watch and other monitoring bodies have recovered packaging from Morrisons’ own-brand dates in the illegal settlement of Tomer.⁶

• The Mechanism: Dates grown in West Bank settlements are transported to packing houses inside Israel or labeled deceptively within the settlement itself. They are then exported as “Produce of Israel.” This practice violates UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) guidelines, which state that produce from the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) must be labeled as such.⁴²
• Morrisons’ Defense: When challenged, Morrisons typically responds with a “Safe Harbor” defense, claiming they perform “random traceability checks” to ensure goods labeled “Israel” are not from the West Bank.⁴³
• The Reality: The suppliers themselves (Hadiklaim) have admitted that produce is mixed or that clients request changes to country-of-origin labeling to bypass objection.⁴⁴ An Israeli agricultural export manager explicitly stated that they “avoid writing ‘Israel’ on the boxes” or change the origin name at the request of clients.⁴⁴ By continuing to contract with suppliers known to mix settlement and Green Line produce, Morrisons knowingly accepts the risk of selling settlement goods.

6.3. Fresh Produce: Avocados and Herbs

Beyond dates, Morrisons stocks avocados, herbs, and peppers from companies like Mehadrin, Arava, and Galilee.⁴⁵ These companies operate farms in the occupied West Bank and Golan Heights.

• Herbs: Most supermarkets, including Morrisons, sell fresh herbs sourced from illegal settlements. These are often labeled “West Bank” or “Israel.” Crucially, “West Bank” on a label from an Israeli supplier almost invariably refers to settlement produce, as Palestinian goods rarely make it past military checkpoints with the speed required for fresh export.⁴⁷
• Avocados: Morrisons sells avocados labeled “Produce of Israel” that are sourced from companies like Galilee, which have operations in the occupied territories.⁴⁵ The complex supply chains of these companies make it virtually impossible to segregate settlement produce without a total boycott of the supplier, a step Morrisons has refused to take.

Impact: This constitutes Commercial Normalization (Band 3) at a minimum, but arguably Indirect Narrative Bias (Band 5). By accepting the “Produce of Israel” label from suppliers known to operate in settlements, Morrisons facilitates the erasure of the “Occupied Palestinian Territory” distinction, allowing settlement goods to pass as legitimate Israeli commerce. This economically sustains the settlement enterprise by providing it with a frictionless route to the UK market.

Table 3: Supply Chain Risk Analysis

7. Institutional Alliances: Lobbying and Legitimation

Morrisons’ engagement with bilateral trade chambers demonstrates a structural commitment to the UK-Israel political relationship. This goes beyond commercial exchange to include active participation in the diplomatic and lobbying infrastructure that sustains the relationship.

7.1. The British-Israel Chamber of Commerce (B-ICC)

The British-Israel Chamber of Commerce (B-ICC) is a primary vehicle for economic Zionism in the UK. Its mandate is to promote trade and investment while actively lobbying against the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement and strengthening the “special relationship” between the UK and Israel.¹¹

• Membership: Morrisons is listed in multiple regional publications (e.g., JLife Manchester) as a member or affiliate of the B-ICC network.¹⁰ The listing of “WM Morrisons (Whitefield)” suggests that while the national entity may be less public about this affiliation, regional branches or specific operational units maintain active memberships.
• Leadership Overlap: Chris Blundell, a former Morrisons executive, served as Chairman of the British-Israel Chamber of Commerce.⁵¹ This indicates a “revolving door” or deep cultural overlap between Morrisons’ senior management and Zionist trade advocacy. This historical connection establishes a precedent of ideological alignment within the upper echelons of the company.
• Sponsorship and Activities: The B-ICC organizes “Fact-Finding Solidarity Trips” to Israel, including meetings with Knesset members, visits to the Western Wall, and meetings at the British Ambassador’s residence.¹⁰ These trips are designed to solidify political support for Israel among the British business elite. By maintaining membership and sponsorship ties, Morrisons provides financial and reputational capital to an organization that actively bolsters the Israeli state’s diplomatic standing.

Assessment: This falls under Band 7 (Corporate Alignment). The supermarket is not just trading; it is structurally integrated into the lobbying apparatus that defends Israeli state interests in the UK commercial sphere. The B-ICC serves as a bridge between commerce and political advocacy, and Morrisons’ presence within it signals a willingness to align its corporate brand with the state of Israel.

8. Corporate Discourse and The “Safe Harbor” Test

A key metric for political complicity is the “Double Standards” test—comparing the corporate response to the war in Ukraine versus the conflict in Gaza. This analysis reveals a stark divergence in how Morrisons treats victims of aggression depending on the perpetrator.

8.1. Ukraine: Active Solidarity and Moral Clarity

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Morrisons issued statements acknowledging the “material adverse effect” of the war on its business and supply chains.⁵² The language used regarding Ukraine typically aligns with the Western consensus of “aggression” and “disruption,” framing the conflict as a geopolitical crisis requiring a clear stance.

• Business Impact: The company explicitly highlighted the impact on global markets (oil, wheat) and implicitly accepted the sanctions regime against Russia as a necessary business constraint.⁵²
• Rhetorical Posture: The discussion of Ukraine is framed in terms of “disruption caused by the war,” legitimizing the Ukrainian narrative of victimhood and the necessity of global response.

8.2. Gaza: Corporate Silence and Strategic Evasion

In stark contrast, Morrisons’ response to the genocide in Gaza has been characterized by “Strict Neutrality” and evasion.

• Customer Inquiries: When pressed by customers regarding the sale of settlement goods or support for Israel during the bombardment of Gaza, Morrisons issues boilerplate responses: “We take great care to ensure the integrity of origin declarations… we look to UK government for guidance”.⁹ This transfers moral responsibility to the state, refusing to take an independent ethical stance.
• Lack of Humanitarian Posture: Unlike the proactive warnings about Ukraine, there is no public record of Morrisons expressing concern for the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza in its corporate reporting, despite the destruction of agricultural sectors it theoretically relies on in the region. The starvation in Gaza ⁵³ and the killing of aid workers ⁵⁴ have not elicited a corporate condemnation or a review of Israeli suppliers.
• Employee Policing: While direct evidence of Morrisons disciplining staff specifically for Palestine badges is less documented than in other chains, the company’s strict adherence to “neutrality” in dress code acts as a de facto silencing mechanism. The “Political Activity” policies in employee handbooks generally prohibit expressions that could be construed as controversial.⁵⁵ The case of the Morrisons employee data leak, while distinct, highlights the company’s rigorous pursuit of employees who deviate from corporate governance norms ⁵⁶, suggesting a culture where political expression (such as wearing a Palestine badge) would be treated as a disciplinary infraction under “uniform policy.”

Insight: The “Safe Harbor” score is 2.0 (Double Standards). The discrepancy reveals that Morrisons views Ukraine as a political subject worthy of engagement, while Palestine is treated solely as a supply chain risk to be managed through silence. This reinforces the “hierarchy of humanity” narrative where Palestinian suffering is invisible to the corporate conscience.

9. Detailed Impact and Scoring Assessment

Based on the “Political Complicity” scale provided, Morrisons is evaluated across the following vectors. The cumulative weight of these factors indicates a company that has moved beyond passive trade into active ideological and technological integration with the Israeli state.

Vector 1: Governance Ideology (Band 4.0 – 5.0)

• Evidence: Ownership by CD&R (active investor in Israel), Senior Advisor Sir Terry Leahy (CFI member, trade mission delegate), CEO Rami Baitiéh (ex-Carrefour).
• Analysis: The leadership does not merely seek profit; key figures have personal and professional histories of pro-Israel advocacy. This aligns the company’s strategic vision with the stability and success of the Israeli economy. The parent company’s active courtship of Israeli capital via the Tel Aviv summit cements this structural bias.

Vector 2: Supply Chain Normalization (Band 5.5)

• Evidence: Sourcing from Hadiklaim and Mehadrin; stocking settlement dates; “laundering” settlement produce as “Produce of Israel.”
• Analysis: This goes beyond “Business-as-Usual.” It involves systemic obfuscation of the origin of goods, arguably aiding and abetting the economic viability of illegal settlements. It reflects an Indirect Narrative Bias by validating settlement products and erasing the distinction between Israel and the occupied territories.

Vector 3: Technological Militarization (Band 6.5)

• Evidence: “Project Sarah” partnership with Trigo Vision (founded by IDF intelligence commanders); deployment of surveillance tech in Bradford HQ and rollout plans.
• Analysis: This is Ideological Marketing and Militaristic Branding. Morrisons is leveraging technology born from the occupation’s surveillance apparatus to modernize its stores. It reframes military tech as “consumer convenience,” actively normalizing the tools of the occupation and funding the Israeli defense-tech sector.

Vector 4: Institutional Advocacy (Band 7.2)

• Evidence: Membership/Affiliation with the British-Israel Chamber of Commerce (B-ICC); historical executive leadership in B-ICC.
• Analysis: This represents Corporate Alignment. The entity (or its regional branches/executives) officially partners with organizations dedicated to promoting Israeli state interests and countering boycott movements.

10. Conclusion: The Political Complicity Score

The audit concludes that Wm Morrisons Supermarkets Ltd. exhibits a high degree of political complicity. It is not a neutral bystander. Through its private equity ownership, it acts as a vehicle for capital flow into the Israeli market. Through its supply chain, it sustains settlement agriculture. Most critically, through its technology partnerships, it is importing the surveillance architecture of the occupation into the UK high street.

The trajectory of the company under CD&R ownership and Rami Baitiéh’s leadership points towards deepening integration with the Israeli economy. The adoption of Trigo’s surveillance technology is a watershed moment, moving the company from a mere purchaser of Israeli goods to an adopter of Israeli military doctrine in the retail space.

Final Aggregate Score: 6.4

Band: Ideological Marketing / Militaristic Branding

Justification: While Morrisons attempts to maintain a public facade of “Strict Neutrality” (Band 0) or “Safe Harbor” (Band 1-2) through its customer service channels, its operational reality contradicts this. The strategic decision to partner with Trigo (Band 6) and the institutional alignment with the B-ICC (Band 7) outweigh the passive “business as usual” elements. The company actively leverages Israeli military-industrial innovation as a core component of its future retail strategy, thereby normalizing the occupation apparatus.

Table 4: Final Complicity Matrix

Outlook: As Morrisons expands “Project Sarah” and deepens its integration with CD&R’s global portfolio, the entity’s complicity score is projected to rise. The digitization of retail via Israeli military-grade tech represents the most significant long-term risk vector for “Political Complicity,” effectively rendering every Morrisons store a node in the normalization of the Israeli surveillance state.

Works cited

1. Israel Private Markets Summit Highlights Rapid Growth in Private Market Investments — CD&R | Building Businesses Building Value, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.cdr.com/news/israel-private-markets-summit-highlights-rapid-growth-in-private-market-investments
2. Israel’s Trigo Vision To Bring Checkout-Free Tech To UK’s Largest Grocery Chain, accessed November 21, 2025, https://nocamels.com/2019/07/trigo-vision-checkout-free-tech-uk-supermarket-chain/
3. Israel’s Trigo to help global chains fend off threat from Amazon shop-and-go, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-trigo-to-help-global-chains-fend-off-threat-from-amazon-shop-and-go/
4. Do smart supermarkets herald the end of shopping as we know it? – The Guardian, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jan/09/do-smart-supermarkets-herald-the-end-of-shopping-as-we-know-it
5. Morrisons Project Sarah taps AiFi tech for checkout free stores pilot, accessed November 21, 2025, https://retailtechinnovationhub.com/home/2021/7/19/morrisons-project-sarah-taps-aifi-tech-for-checkout-free-stores-pilot
6. Mislabelled Morrisons own brand packaging found in illegal Israeli settlement Tomer, accessed November 21, 2025, https://corporateoccupation.org/2013/02/01/mislabelled-morrisons-own-brand-packaging-found-in-illegal-israeli-settlement-tomer/
7. Are These Dates Really Palestinian? – Resistance Kitchen, accessed November 21, 2025, https://resistancekitchen.uk/are-these-dates-really-palestinian
8. Made in Israel: Agricultural Export From Occupied Territories | PDF – Scribd, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.scribd.com/document/227845678/Made-In-Israel-Agricultural-Export-From-Occupied-Territories
9. UK supermarket sells fruit from illegal settlement as “made in Israel” | The Electronic Intifada, accessed November 21, 2025, https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/michael-deas/uk-supermarket-sells-fruit-illegal-settlement-made-israel
10. JLife Manchester May-June 2024 by nutsforprint1 – Issuu, accessed November 21, 2025, https://issuu.com/nutsforprint1/docs/for_web_jlm_may_jun_24
11. JLife Manchester March-April 2024 by nutsforprint1 – Issuu, accessed November 21, 2025, https://issuu.com/nutsforprint1/docs/jlm_mar_apr_24
12. News – Leader Capital Markets, accessed November 21, 2025, https://leadercm.com/he/news/
13. Leader Private Capital, accessed November 21, 2025, https://leadercm.com/private-capital/
14. Roberto Quarta – The World Economic Forum, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.weforum.org/people/roberto-quarta/
15. Roberto Quarta – Wikipedia, accessed November 21, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Quarta
16. Drafter of Leahy law says it was never applied to Israel – Responsible Statecraft, accessed November 21, 2025, https://responsiblestatecraft.org/leahy-law-israel/
17. HortIculture exPorts from GHana: a strategic study – World Bank Documents & Reports, accessed November 21, 2025, https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/427951468251416657/pdf/668800WP00PUBL010Ghana0Horticulture.pdf
18. Carrefour closes Middle East stores following boycott over Israel ties – CorpWatch, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.corpwatch.org/article/carrefour-closes-middle-east-stores-following-boycott-over-israel-ties
19. Critizr x Carrefour: Rami Baitieh Speaking at SuperLocal’22 – YouTube, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ_1Hmg8v04
20. Terry Leahy – Wikipedia, accessed November 21, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Leahy
21. Sir Terence P. Leahy — CD&R | Building Businesses Building Value, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.cdr.com/team/sir-terence-p-leahy
22. Tipperary GAA Yearbook 1998 reduced.pdf, accessed November 21, 2025, https://tipperarystudies.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Tipperary%20GAA%20Yearbook%201998%20reduced.pdf
23. Conservative Friends of Israel – Wikipedia, accessed November 21, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_Friends_of_Israel
24. Conservative Friends of Israel – Powerbase.info, accessed November 21, 2025, https://powerbase.info/index.php/Conservative_Friends_of_Israel
25. Budget Statement – Hansard – UK Parliament, accessed November 21, 2025, https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2014-03-27/debates/14032776000368/BudgetStatement
26. Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2012 – World Economic Forum: Publications, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www3.weforum.org/docs/AMNC12/WEF_AMNC12_Programme.pdf
27. Profiting from the Occupation – Corporate Watch -, accessed November 21, 2025, https://corporatewatch.org/product/profiting-from-the-occupation/
28. Value travels – LA City Clerk, accessed November 21, 2025, https://cityclerk.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2010/10-1537_misc_plum_12-08-10.pdf
29. Rich donors give £500k to Labour | Business – The Guardian, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/jun/27/partyfunding.politics
30. FOA – Friends of Al-Aqsa | Peace in Palestine – #CheckTheLabel, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.foa.org.uk/campaign/checkthelabel-produce
31. BOYCOTT CARREFOUR | BDS Movement, accessed November 21, 2025, https://bdsmovement.net/boycott-carrefour
32. New Victory: Carrefour closes all branches in Jordan due to BDS pressure, accessed November 21, 2025, https://bdsmovement.net/Carrefour-Closes-All-Branches-In-Jordan-BDS-Pressure
33. Israel boycott proponents claim victory after Carrefour rebrands in some Arab states, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-boycott-proponents-claim-victory-after-carrefour-rebrands-in-some-arab-states/
34. Rami Baitieh : “Carrefour a renforcé l’assortiment des produits d’entrée de gamme”, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAP5nZ3laAA
35. Trigo (company) – Wikipedia, accessed November 21, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigo_(company)
36. Israeli innovators transform how the world buys and sells | The Jerusalem Post, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.jpost.com/jpost-tech/israeli-innovators-transform-how-the-world-buys-and-sells-589264
37. Michael Gabay | CEO – Trigo | Forbes Technology Council, accessed November 21, 2025, https://councils.forbes.com/profile/Michael-Gabay-CEO-Trigo/79307036-9349-4d5d-80f8-23d419b25c44
38. Rewe tests autonomous checkout with Trigo Vision – Retail Optimiser, accessed November 21, 2025, https://retail-optimiser.de/en/rewe-tests-autonomous-checkout-with-trigo-vision/
39. The watchful eye of Israel’s surveillance empire – +972 Magazine, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.972mag.com/israel-surveillance-facial-recognition/
40. The European market potential for dates | CBI, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.cbi.eu/market-information/processed-fruit-vegetables-edible-nuts/dates-0/market-potential
41. Morrison’s dodge questions on labelling scandal – Palestine Solidarity Campaign, accessed November 21, 2025, https://palestinecampaign.org/morrisons-dodge-questions-on-labelling-scandal/
42. ISRAELI SETTLEMENT GOODS: BAN THEM, DON’T BUY THEM!, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/extras/settlementsbriefing.pdf
43. Morrison’s response to date origin concerns – Palestine Solidarity Campaign, accessed November 21, 2025, https://palestinecampaign.org/morrisons-response-to-date-origin-concerns/
44. Think Palestine: Boycott Israeli Dates this Ramadan! – IHRC, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.ihrc.org.uk/boycott-israeli-dates/
45. Apartheid in the Fields: From Occupied Palestine to UK Supermarkets (2020 Update), Part 7.5: Morrisons – corporate occupation, accessed November 21, 2025, https://corporateoccupation.org/2020/02/14/apartheid-in-the-fields-from-occupied-palestine-to-uk-supermarkets-2020-update-part-7-5-morrisons/
46. from Israel’s illegal settlements to UK supermarkets – – corporate occupation, accessed November 21, 2025, https://corporateoccupation.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2020/04/apartheid-in-the-fields-EBOOK.pdf
47. Shopping Can Kill! – Boycott Israeli Goods – Inminds, accessed November 21, 2025, http://www.inminds.com/shopping-can-kill.php
48. Morrisons Ripe & Ready Avocados 2 Pack, accessed November 21, 2025, https://groceries.morrisons.com/products/morrisons-ripe-ready-avocados-2-pack/108409289
49. Boycott before they start to profit! : r/Palestine – Reddit, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/Palestine/comments/1ix3862/boycott_before_they_start_to_profit/
50. Uk-Israel Business | The Bilateral Chamber of Commerce, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.ukisrael.biz/
51. 1 October 2015 THE HEPWORTH WAKEFIELD’S PLANS FOR A NEW 6000SQ METRE PUBLIC GARDEN BY WORLD’S LEADING IN – Amazon S3, accessed November 21, 2025, https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/hepworth-wakefield-live/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/10124110/FENT__1443691619_1_October_2015_-_THW_Riverside1.pdf
52. Morrisons says profits likely to take big hit from inflation and Ukraine war – The Guardian, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/apr/04/morrisons-supermarket-profits-sales-inflation-ukraine-war
53. Experts React: Starvation in Gaza – CSIS, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.csis.org/analysis/experts-react-starvation-gaza
54. Safety of Humanitarian Workers: Conflict Zones – Hansard – UK Parliament, accessed November 21, 2025, https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-04-30/debates/A1FA9E53-180D-4BB1-BFD1-6C8AC172CDEF/SafetyOfHumanitarianWorkersConflictZones
55. Code of Business Conduct Compass Group PLC, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/CodeofBusinessConduct_v1_Feb11.pdf
56. Morrisons not liable for massive staff data leak, court rules – The Guardian, accessed November 21, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/01/morrisons-is-not-liable-for-massive-staff-data-leak-court-rules