Tesco has announced it has successfully completed a significant enhancement in welfare standards for all its core fresh chicken ranges. The change ensures customers can access chicken that is raised with more space to perch and move around, while maintaining the same great value.
All Tesco fresh British chicken is now grown with birds that have 20% more space than the industry standard. This allows them additional room to express their natural behaviours.
To help support British agriculture, the retailer has reaffirmed its commitment to sourcing all its fresh chicken from UK farms. This commitment underlines Tesco’s partnership approach across its supply chain. The retailer will provide additional financial support to its suppliers and farmers of around £50 million a year to help implement the enhancements in chicken welfare and associated costs.
The enhancements represent a significant step-up in welfare standards across the industry and build on Tesco’s existing higher welfare brands, such as Finest, Slower Grown, and Organic, which already include more space for birds to roam around. The move will also ensure birds continue to have increased access to environmental enrichment such as straw bales, perches, pecking objects and natural light.
As part of the retailer’s commitment to helping customers make better choices without compromising on value or quality, Tesco will continue to offer great value on chicken through its Aldi Price Match and Clubcard Prices initiatives, giving customers access to affordable chicken, with enhanced welfare standards.
Claire Lorains, Group Quality and Sustainability Director at Tesco said:
“We are committed to continuously improving animal welfare and standards, while maintaining great value and quality for customers. We’ve worked closely with our British farmers to ensure all our core fresh chicken meets higher welfare standards, providing 20% more space than the industry norm.”
“This commitment not only supports British agriculture but also significantly enhances welfare standards across the UK’s poultry industry. Customers can buy high-quality chicken, while still enjoying the same great value.”
Ben, a longstanding Tesco chicken farmer said:
“We’re a family run business that’s been supplying Tesco with chicken for more than 25 years. The recent change to reduce the stocking density of our chicken, providing them with more space, has made a big difference to the welfare of our chickens and the working environment of our dedicated farm team.
“When you buy our chicken from Tesco, you’re supporting farms that treat their animals with respect and care. The extra space allows our chickens to be themselves, which means they’re healthier and our poultry is of the highest quality – all while supporting British farms like ours.”
Tesco recently published its Greenprint for UK Farming report, which sets out a series of recommendations for government and the industry to support UK farmers in transitioning to sustainable agriculture practices. Read the full report here.
