Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Coop Group score top marks in global benchmark on animal welfare
Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Coop Group score top marks in global benchmark on animal welfare
Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Coop Group (Switzerland) have been given top marks in a global annual farm animal welfare Business Benchmark report.
Now in its third year, the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) provides an annual review of how the world’s leading food companies are managing and reporting their farm animal welfare practices. In total, 80 companies were assessed according to their published information and ranked from Tier 1 (indicating companies that are taking a leadership position), down to Tier 6 (where animal welfare does not appear to be on the business agenda).
Marks & Spencer and Coop Group (Switzerland) retained their Tier 1 position for the second year running, joined by Waitrose which climbs two places from Tier 3.
In Tier 2 for the second year running were The Co-operative Food (UK), J Sainsbury, Noble Foods and Unilever, with Cranswick (up two places) and McDonald’s and Migros (both up one place).
Retaining their Tier 3 ranking are Arla Foods, FrieslandCampina, Morrisons, Nestlé, Tyson Foods and Vion. They were joined by Tesco, Subway, Ahold (Koninklijke) and Group Danone who have all moved up one place and Wendy’s, General Mills, JBS who have been included in the survey for the first time. Marfrig drops down one place from Tier 2.
Philip Lymbery, CEO at Compassion in World Farming, commented: “We are encouraged by the range of companies that have made it into the top two tiers of the Benchmark this year. It suggests that it is realistic for food companies to take steps to improve their reporting and disclosure on farm animal welfare, irrespective of their sub sector, geography or ownership.”
