Waitrose is getting closer to making its Italian pork supply chain “confinement free” as it ramps up its standards outside of the UK.
While much of the retailers, suppliers and farmers are UK-based, Waitrose sources some of its charcuterie produce with protected designation of origin from Europe, The Grocer reported.
However, the upmarket retailer is looking to increase the standards of its suppliers in Europe to line up with the high quality welfare set by its British supply base.
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Waitrose senior agriculture manager, Jake Pickering, told The Grocer: “We’re very close to announcing that we’ll be confinement free within our Italian supply chain.”
In the UK, the supermarkets farmers do not use confinement stalls and all pigs are bred outdoors.
“It’s safe to say that our international pork supply chain is not quite where our British one is for our continental and cured meat, but we’ve got a firm plan endorsed by the Compassion In World Farming of where we need to get to and we will be there by 2025.”
This comes as Waitrose launched a ‘no compromise’ animal welfare campaign last month, which acts as a reminder for customers of its leadership position, according to Pickering.
It looks to highlight the supermarket’s breadth of welfare values, down to ingredients in its own-label ranges.
“The meat and dairy used in our primal offering is also the same as in our ready meals, our pies and pizzas. When we say no compromise, we really do mean that,” he added.
