Aldi is to implement new packaging that displays its new stocking density requirements for all fresh chickens, as it reaffirms its commitment to animal welfare.

First announced earlier this year, from 30 October, customers will now be able to spot new labels on its packaging highlighting the higher welfare changes to the discounter’s poultry range.

The shift will see all fresh chickens from the supermarket, which are already all sourced from British farms, have 20% more space than industry standards.

It follows Aldi stopping selling eggs from caged hens in August, while hitting its target to go cage-free “more than a year ahead of schedule”.

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Aldi managing director of buying Julie Ashfield said: “Animal welfare is of paramount importance to us, and we’ve been working hard with our suppliers to reduce stocking density to help us improve the welfare conditions for chickens.

“We’re already one of the UK’s largest providers of chicken and we’re proud that from next week, we can offer our customers access to higher welfare chicken at our unbeatable Aldi value.”

Aldi’s decision follows in the wake of other supermarkets such as Lidl, which unveiled plans in March to improve its chicken welfare standards by increasing space to its own-label fresh chicken by 20%, above current industry standards.