Policies

CNRY Vendor Neutrality & Conflicts Policy

Last updated: 10 November 2025

CNRY exists to protect operational resilience for our clients. That only works if our advice is independent, transparent, and merit‑based. This page explains—in plain English—what that means for you when we compare equipment, software, and service providers.

What you can expect from us

• No pay‑to‑play. We do not sell access or preference.

• Upfront disclosure. If anything could look like a conflict (e.g., partner program, demo unit, rebates), we tell you before we advise.

• No fee offsets. We never reduce or offset CNRY’s fees in connection with vendor incentives. If a benefit is proposed, we will decline it or require a supplier‑funded discount of at least the same value to be applied directly to your quote/PO.

How we choose vendors (our criteria)

We score options against factors that matter for continuity and total cost of ownership:

• Safety & compliance (CE/UKCA, ATEX/NFPA alignment, food‑safety standards)

• Performance & reliability (throughput, uptime, maintainability)

• Lifecycle economics (capex, opex, spares, energy, maintenance burden)

• Service & supportability (parts availability, field service, documentation)

• Integration fit (controls, data, utilities, footprint)

• Lead time & vendor viability (warranty terms, financial health, references)

• Sustainability (efficiency, emissions, end‑of‑life)

You’ll receive a short Scorecard Summary with our recommendation.

When there’s a potential conflict

We maintain a Conflict‑of‑Interest Register. If a team member has a relationship that could reasonably be seen to influence advice (e.g., prior employment, family ties, investments, paid speaking), we disclose it and agree mitigation with you before proceeding.

Gifts & hospitality. Routine, low‑value hospitality (e.g., coffee, plant‑tour lunch) is acceptable; anything that could create a sense of obligation (cash, valuable gifts, entertainment, travel) is declined—or pre‑approved and disclosed.

Referral fees, partner programs & demos

• Referral/commission offers: If a vendor offers a fee related to our recommendation, we either require a supplier‑funded discount of at least the same value on your quote/PO or decline the fee.

• Partner listings: Directory badges or partner tiers do not affect our scoring. Any related benefits are disclosed if relevant.

• Demo/loaned equipment: If a vendor provides demo or loaned units, we disclose terms. Demo access never guarantees a recommendation.

Exceptions (sole‑source or urgent cases)

If a single‑vendor path is necessary (compatibility, safety, urgent replacement), we document:

• the reason,

• options considered, and

• risk/mitigation steps (e.g., extended warranty, service SLAs, price benchmarking).

Raise a concern

If you believe our advice has been influenced improperly, email ethics@cnrygroup.com. We will acknowledge your report, review it, and respond with findings and any actions taken.