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Waitrose Wins Crown for Welfare

Waitrose

15 July 2010

The coveted accolade was awarded to Waitrose because of its ongoing commitment to high standards of farm animal welfare.During a ceremony last night in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, Waitrose was singled out for its overall score in Compassion’s latest supermarket survey. Specific areas of excellence included being ‘streets ahead’ in the standards of welfare stipulated in its pork supply chain. Waitrose was also praised for giving its dairy cows access to pasture during the grazing season along with plenty of bedding when indoors.The retailer was also noted as the first UK supermarket to move entirely to British pork and for having ‘near perfect’ welfare standards for farmed fish. Comments Quentin Clark, Waitrose Head of Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing: "A belief in the very highest standards of animal welfare is right at the heart of the way we do business. Our customers too always expect us to treat animals fairly and with respect at all times and we make an enormous effort to make sure this trust is well placed." The exacting animal welfare standards that Waitrose asks of its farmers and suppliers were subject to a rigorous examination by Compassion in World Farming. To score top marks for farm animal welfare, Waitrose had to demonstrate success in a broad range of areas, ranging from stocking densities, freedom to express natural behaviour and the overall wellbeing of animals. Steve McIvor, Director of Food Business at Compassion in World Farming, said: "Waitrose’s Most Compassionate Supermarket Award is part of our wider awards programme - a vital tool that allows us to engage with organisations to celebrate and recognise all the good work they are doing. Waitrose is the supermarket with the highest overall score on farm animal welfare and the best performer in nearly every species category. The positive engagement we’ve had with Waitrose has helped us to meet our main aim which is to place farm animal welfare at the heart of the food industry."It’s the third time that Waitrose has been crowned Most Compassionate Supermarket with previous wins in 2003/4 and 2005/6. Each award has recognised that Waitrose has the overall highest farm animal welfare standards of any UK supermarket. Comments Waitrose Agriculture Manager Duncan Sinclair, "The hard work and dedication of the agricultural teams to ensure the highest standard of farm animal welfare has been truly recognised with this award." Good ChickenCompassion in World Farming also awarded Waitrose with a sought-after Good Chicken Award. The Awards celebrate food companies who are raising the standard across their ranges of chicken to higher welfare indoor or free-range/organic.The judges said Waitrose showed ‘incredible leadership’ by making the decision to use higher welfare chicken across all its ranges. Rowen West-Henzell, Head of Food Business at Compassion in World Farming, said: "As our Most Compassionate Supermarket 2009/10 we’re thrilled to be awarding Waitrose a Good Chicken Award as well. Waitrose is clearly committed to improving the life for any of the chickens it sells in store or uses in its products. We are really pleased to recognise the work Waitrose has done historically and the work it continues to do in this area."