Cows in a field

Beef farmers

100% of our fresh beef and chilled prepared meals containing beef are British, sourced from farms in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

High animal welfare standards

When it comes to beef, so much can affect the flavour and texture of the meat, which is why all the farms we work with have to meet strict standards.

All our beef farmers are accredited to a national farm assurance scheme, such as Red Tractor, which ensures high standards of animal welfare. These schemes cover aspects such as the housing of animals and stocking densities, feed and water, health and veterinary controls, breeding, traceability and transportation.

Farms also work with an independent third party to measure their performance and drive long-term improvement. The Co-op’s dedicated agricultural team visits these farms throughout the year, as well as undertaking welfare checks at all abattoirs.

Find out more about our animal welfare standards.

All the farms we work with have to meet strict standards

Fully traceable beef

Our farmers are passionate about the beef they produce and together we go to great lengths to ensure the highest quality. To tackle cross-contamination in our Irresistible range, we have a rigorous authenticity programme which includes carcass DNA swabbing.

Our dedicated food technical and agricultural teams regularly carry out audits in abattoirs and processing sites. We keep detailed traceability records and have developed close relationships with our farmers and beef suppliers, so we know we are providing you with 100% British beef.

Meet the producer - Keith

Aberdeen Angus beef producer for the Co-op, Keith looks after the farm with his brother Scott. Now, their children are learning the ropes to continue the family’s proud history of farming. Keith said:

"A happy cow is a productive one, so we make sure ours are as happy as possible. The secret is to leave them alone! Cattle have been perfectly happy left to their own devices for hundreds of years. As long as they’re fed and healthy, and producing and feeding healthy calves, I leave them to do their own thing."

Buying Co-op 100% fresh British meat doesn’t just help farmers but the communities that they are involved with as well. Keith said:

"What you buy drives an industry that provides employment across the board. From the people who produce machinery and fertiliser, to our vets and workers, the farmer is the bedrock for a plethora of industries that help keep the economy going. It’s like a web that spreads out from the farm."

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