In a significant move for animal welfare, a leading retail chain is implementing new packaging with updated stocking density requirements for fresh chickens, set to take effect from 30th October.
The new labels will indicate these higher welfare standards, offering 20% more space than the current industry norms. This initiative aligns with the retailer’s earlier commitment to animal welfare, which saw it stop selling eggs from caged hens ahead of schedule.
According to the retailer’s managing director of buying, animal welfare is paramount, and the company has worked diligently with suppliers to reduce stocking densities, thereby enhancing the welfare conditions for chickens. This change reflects the organisation’s status as one of the country’s largest chicken providers, offering higher welfare poultry without compromising on value.
This decision mirrors similar actions by other supermarkets, such as a comparable plan by another retail chain announced in March, to increase space for their own-label fresh chicken beyond existing standards.
The retailer’s effort to improve animal welfare through increased stocking space is a continuation of its broader commitment to ethical practices.
