Press release: 5th August 2009
Food retailers urged to recognise importance of animal welfare
The RSPCA reveals the food retail finalists for the 2009 Good Business Awards
Three of the UK's independent food retailers have been selected as finalists for the small food retailer category of the RSPCA Good Business Awards 2009, for implementing animal welfare policies which dictate where and how they source their meat, fish, eggs and dairy products.
New entrants Edge & Son join Providence Farm Organic Farm Shop and past winners Able & Cole on this year's shortlist. All have been selected for their commitment to achieving high standards of animal welfare.
Richard Johnson, judge, TV presenter and journalist says: "Customers are increasingly aware of where the food they are buying comes from and want to buy from retailers who make being animal-friendly easy. This is why our three shortlisters, who are making real efforts to use suppliers who rear their animals with humanity, deserve our support and recognition".
"Animal welfare is a topic that demands even closer links between farmers and retailers of all sizes, who must ensure their policies are both practical and actually put into practice."
Finalists for the Independent Food Retailer category are:
- Abel & Cole in recognition of its campaign for clearer meat labelling and the steps it has taken to monitor the slaughter process, both pre and post slaughter.
- Edge & Son in New Ferry, Wirral, Merseyside, for its commitment to welfare issues including cutting down the distance livestock travel to slaughter, carrying out welfare inspections on suppliers and for its on-site abattoir.
- Providence Farm Organic Farm Shop, Holsworthy in Devon, for its on-site abattoir and its individual hand stunning and sticking policy.
David Bowles, Head of External Affairs for the RSPCA says: "We have had a record quality and quantity of entries to this year's fashion category - a clear indication that companies are responding to the shift away from disposable fashion and towards responsible consumerism. "Shoppers want to feel assured about the animal welfare credentials of the items they buy and therefore it is great to see some of the biggest fashion brands on the high street on this year's shortlist. These companies, who are striving to implement exceptional welfare standards, deserve our recognition as they set the standard for others to work towards."
The RSPCA Good Business Awards gala ceremony will be held at One Marylebone, London on Wednesday 7 October 2009. Tickets for the awards ceremony are available by contacting the RSPCA Good Business Awards team on 0300 123 0488 or awards@rspca.org.uk or online: www.rspcagoodbusinessawards.com
For media enquiries, please contact Vaneetha Balasubramaniam or Nicki Akers at 77PR on 0207 492 0977. Email vaneetha.b@77pr.co.uk or nicki.akers@77pr.co.uk or the RSPCA press office on 0300 123 0244 or press@rspca.org.uk.
Find out more about this year's winners.
Find out how your company can be part of the RSPCA Good Business Awards 20010
Notes to editors:
1. The other categories in the RSPCA Good Business Awards are the Supermarket of the year People’s Choice award, Fashion, Cosmetics and Restaurants & Pubs.
2. The independent panel of judges for the food retail category of the RSPCA Good Business Awards 2008 comprises: Richard Johnson, journalist and TV presenter; Andrew Opie, food policy director, British Retail Consortium; Dr Geoff Spriegel, independent food consultant; and Professor John Webster, Professor Emeritus at Bristol University.
3. Entrants to the food retail category this year were judged on the basis of their practices in the following areas:
- Welfare of beef, dairy cattle, chickens bred for meat, laying hens, pigs, sheep and farmed fish
- Live transport of animals
- Commitment to only selling meat from animals that have been pre-stunned before slaughter
- Labelling
- Import of meat and eggs from other countries
- Farm inspection
- Commitment to not selling foie gras
- Commitment to not selling white veal
About the Good Business Awards
The RSPCA Good Business Awards were set up in recognition of the achievements of companies in the cosmetics, fashion and food industries to attain higher standards of animal welfare by implementing sustainable policies and practices.
The RSPCA is pleased to announce The Independent as the official media partner for the Supermarket of the Year People's Choice award of the 2009 Good Business Awards.
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