Waitrose has become the first UK supermarket to fulfil the requirements of the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) animal welfare standards across its own-label chicken range in the UK.

The BCC guidelines ensure animal welfare policies are met across all major chicken suppliers in the UK. Waitrose achieved the milestone ahead of the industry-wide deadline of 2026, after initiating the move in April.

Charlotte Di Cello, chief commercial officer at Waitrose, said: “We’re proud to be the only UK grocer to offer BCC welfare standards as a minimum across all our Waitrose-branded chicken products, including fresh, frozen and ingredient chicken.

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“When we say ‘all’, we mean it, without compromise, all fresh, frozen sandwiches, pizza, stock, prepared meals, everything. Our customers can be assured that Waitrose continues to be number one for animal welfare.”

She added: “We’re not stopping there. We’re calling on the UK Government to make animal welfare labelling mandatory across all retailers so that all shoppers, regardless of where they buy their food, can make more conscious choices that align with their values.”

To support this move, Waitrose will roll-out a transparent welfare labelling scheme to help shoppers make informed choices and know the farming methods and quality of life behind their chicken.