Waitrose has announced that all of its continental pigs will be free from confinement by 2025, as its own brand Italian continental meat is now produced to the "highest animal welfare standards."
A long term partnership between Waitrose and its supplier The Compleat Food Group meant that it was the first Italian meat producer to win a Good Pig Award in 2016, and the retailer has now rolled out its standards across all Italian producers.
Jake Pickering, senior manager for Agriculture at Waitrose, said: “We are confinement free in UK farming, and have a 2025 commitment for all of our continental meat. This represents a huge step forward for the welfare standards within our Italian breeding, growing and finishing supply chains and means that well over 50% of our continental meat sales will now come from higher welfare pigs.
“We have worked with our Italian suppliers to improve standards significantly and they have the backing of Compassion in World Farming’s Good Pig Award.”
"It highlights the importance of working closely with producers, giving them the confidence and support to invest in cage-free systems."
Louise Valducci, Compassion in World Farming.
Louise Valducci, head of Food Business (Europe), Compassion in World Farming, said: “We are encouraged by the steps Waitrose is taking to improve the welfare of pigs in its continental meat supply. It highlights the importance of working closely with producers, giving them the confidence and support to invest in cage-free systems, to ensure a successful transition across the business.
“Consumers are increasingly concerned about animal welfare and any company committing to cage-free production is sending a powerful signal to the market that it is not only the compassionate choice, but also achievable at scale.”
In 2017 Waitrose was awarded the ‘Cage Free Award’ by Compassion in World Farming. This was in recognition of its work to remove the use of cages for farm animals. In 2001 the supermarket stopped selling eggs from caged hens, and now only sells outdoor-bred or free range British pork. Waitrose also pledged to improve the welfare standards within its continental meat supply chain by 2025 by removing all confinement.
In support of Waitrose's Cage Free award from Compassion in World Farming, the retailer says its continental pigs will be free from confinement including prohibiting sow stalls and farrowing crates by 2025.
Waitrose said it will continue making progress on welfare in its other continental meat supply chains to hit its 2025 target, and encourages other retailers to follow its lead.
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
