Marks & Spencer and Waitrose are part of the top ranking group of farm animal welfare performers named in a new global report which covers the behaviour of 90 of world’s leading food companies.
Now in its fourth year, the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) provides an annual review of how food companies are managing and reporting their farm animal welfare policies and practices. Many well-known pig sector retail and production names are included in the 92-page report.
Currently, 11 companies occupy leadership positions in the BBFAW’s top two tiers of performers. Tier 1 achievers include:
- Marks & Spencer
- Coop Group (Switzerland)
- Waitrose
- Noble Foods
Tier 2 achievers include:
- The Co-operative (UK)
- J Sainsbury
- Unilever
- Cranswick
- Marfrig
- McDonald’s
- Migros
“The results show that it is realistic for companies across the world and in all sub-sectors (retailers, wholesalers, restaurants, bars and producers) to aspire to and achieve high scores in the benchmark and to recognise the responsibility they hold for the welfare of animals in their supply chains,” said BBFAW executive director, Nicky Amos.
“Despite the overall progress made since 2012, however, some 40% of companies (including Burger King, Domino’s Pizza Group (UK) and Starbucks) provide little or no information on their approach to farm animal welfare. There is clearly much work to be done to get farm animal welfare on the business agenda of many large global food companies”.
The BBFAW report is compiled in collaboration with Compassion in World Farming, World Animal Protection and the investment firm, Coller Capital.
