European supermarket survey

A biennial UK supermarket welfare survey is due to be extended across Europe for the first time, due to interest from companies on the Continent.

This year’s survey will review welfare standards for laying hens, broilers, pigs, dairy cows and calves, with an option to include beef, sheep, turkey, duck and fish.

The survey, run by Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), rates supermarkets’ policies, performance and overall approach to welfare.

A “bespoke, free, comprehensive and confidential” feedback report will be given to each retailer surveyed to compare and track welfare performance against industry peers.

The companies participating will also be considered for CWIF's Retailer Awards, which is part of the annual Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards.

Four new categories have been introduced for this year’s awards, including Best Retailer Award, Best Performing Retailer Award, Best Retailer Innovation Award and Best Retailer Marketing Award.

CWIF director of food business Dr Tracey Jones said: “Most food shopping takes place in supermarkets, so retailers are the main link between the farm and the food that goes into our shopping trolleys.”

She added: “The influence retailers have over the farm animal welfare standards adopted by food producers is enormous, due to their buying power and ability to promote one product over another. So encouraging them to place greater focus on farm animal welfare standards is vital. By expanding the scope of the survey to incorporate European retailers, Compassion aims to drive farm animal welfare higher up the agenda across Europe.”

Mark Atherton-Ranson, agriculture and animal welfare manager for Marks & Spencer (M&S), said: “Compassion’s Supermarket Survey is an important tool that helps us drive our standards forward and achieve our welfare commitments.”

M&S was one of the first retailers to take part in the survey when it began in 2000.

“The tailored and comprehensive feedback we receive steers the development of our Health & Welfare improvement programme, and enables us to maintain our leading welfare standards by providing a benchmark to gauge against our competitors in the retail sector,” he added.

Jones further added: “I’m delighted to be able to invite European retailers to take part in the survey this year. Their participation allows us to better understand the importance attributed to farm animal welfare across Europe, and enables retailers to harness their influence over the welfare standards adopted for animals producing the eggs, meat and dairy products they sell.”

Source: http://goo.gl/Tg8LO