The Co-op has switched to higher-welfare fresh chicken following a “multimillion-pound investment”.
The change, which gives the birds more than 20% additional space, comes 10 months ahead of the convenience retailer’s initial timeframe, The Grocer reported.
From today (28 February), the maximum stocking density that all of Co-op’s fresh chicken will be bred to is 30kg/m2, equivalent to the requirements set out by the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) – a welfare policy deigned by experts to improve the lives of chickens by replacing fast-growing breeds with healthier, slower-growing birds.
The switch will take place across all fresh chicken varieties, including whole birds, breasts, thighs, drumsticks and wings in all 2,400 UK stores.
Subscribe to Grocery Gazette for free
Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning
Last May, Co-op’s board and members clashed at its annual general meeting after demonstrators urged the grocer to adopt the BCC.
Despite 96% of 32,000 Co-op members voting for this, the board refused to stop selling fast-growing ‘Frankenchickens’ as it strived to keep prices down. However, it did agree to give chickens more space.
The retailer said it is also planning to extend the lower stocking density commitment to its ‘added value’ chicken products in coming months.
Co-op commercial director Sinead Bell said: “Animal welfare is extremely important to us, our member owners and our customers, and we work very hard to ensure that all the animals in our supply chain are looked after.
“I’m really proud of our change to reduce stocking density, where we have made a significant investment into poultry welfare to give our chickens more space, leading to an improvement in the natural activity and behaviour, general health and welfare improvements, with a reduction in antibiotic usage.”
