Co-op has become the first convenience retailer in the UK to extend improved chicken welfare standards across its British breaded and ready-to-eat range.
The 21 lines, which include Co-op’s Breaded Chicken Goujons, Garlic Kiev, Roast Chicken Drumstick and Sliced Chicken Breast, have now all been rebranded under the retailer’s ‘Space to Thrive’ range, which sees chicken reared under welfare conditions that exceed the UK standard, with reduced stocking density and 20% more space.
It also means chickens come from naturally lit barns and have access to pecking objects and platforms for perching to enable more natural behaviours and a healthier life.
Co-op – who sells only British meat and poultry, and free-range eggs – is amongst one of the first retailers to move its entire breaded chicken to the lower stocking density commitment alongside its fresh chicken range, which moved in February following a multi-million-pound investment.
Sinead Bell, Co-op’s Commercial Director, said: “Responsible sourcing matters to us, our members and customers and we’re proud to support British farmers by sourcing 100% of our fresh meat and shell eggs from trusted farms from across Britain. We take animal welfare seriously and listen to our member owners, which is why we took action earlier this year and continued to significantly invest in our poultry supply chain to offer shoppers high quality products at the same great value.
“Today’s announcement underlines our unwavering commitment to this, and we are proud to be amongst the few retailers to extend the new lower stocking density to beyond fresh chicken.”
