Space to Thrive chicken
At our Co-op AGM in May 2023, we announced we would take steps to improve chicken welfare. We committed to moving to a lower stocking density across fresh chicken by the end of 2024.
We were proud to deliver this change for our customers and member owners 10 months ahead of our target and from February 2024 all our fresh chicken had 20% more space in barns, going above and beyond the Red Tractor Assurance Standards. As part of this move, we also committed to continuing to offer RSCPA Assured Free Range chicken to our member owners and customers.
Following this first step in our welfare improvement journey, we also committed to extending this change to our breaded and ready to eat chicken*. From November 2024, member owners and customers saw Space to Thrive launch across these lines and this move further cements our commitment to chicken welfare in our supply chains. We continue to work with our supplier partners to ensure welfare remains a priority for our Co-op and that we deliver on the expectations of our member owners and customers into the future.
We are also proud of our long-standing commitment to British farmers and growers, and all our fresh and frozen chicken will remain 100% British. Exclusions apply to RTE Chicken
Chicken welfare at Co-op
We're committed to animal welfare at Co-op and our fresh chicken welfare standards go above and beyond the Red Tractor Assurance. We are also proud to stock RSPCA Assured Free Range Chicken.
We work closely with our supplying farms to ensure our strict animal welfare standards are adhered to. These close relationships are key to allowing us to deliver on our welfare commitments for our customers and member owners.
We're proud to support British farming and all our chicken is 100% British. We have maintained this commitment to supporting British farmers across the UK and will continue to do so into the future.
Our member owners and customers trust Co-op on welfare and that’s why we're proud that our chickens are reared with care, with 20% more space that industry standard, going above and beyond Red Tractor Assurance Standards, in naturally lit barns from farms we know and trust.
All our birds are free to roam around the barn throughout the day with continual access to food and water. They are also able to play with straw bales and perch on objects throughout the barn.
Key welfare indicators allow us to monitor the health and wellbeing of chicken across our British supplying farms. We capture key welfare indicators from across a range of areas. Our supplying farmers also regularly check the birds throughout the day to ensure they are happy and healthy. We continually check temperature and ventilation in the houses and ensure that all our chickens have a balanced diet with water that is continuously available day and night.
Read our Co-op Animal Welfare Standards and Performance to find out more about our commitment to creating products that have been produced to good animal welfare standards, regardless of their budget.
