Press release: 11th August 2009
Consumers vote for the country's most animal-friendly supermarket
RSPCA launches its People's Choice Supermarket award
The RSPCA is calling on the British public to vote for their favourite animal-friendly supermarket. As part of the Good Business Awards, the new People's Choice Supermarket award in conjunction with The Independent recognises the British supermarket that is making the biggest strides to improve animal welfare.
Three of the UK's best loved supermarkets are in the running for the title - M&S, Sainsbury's and The Co-operative. All three businesses have been selected by the judging panel for their commitment to achieving the highest standards of animal welfare.
From today, the public can cast their vote online via The Independent website at www.independent.co.uk/voterspca or by texting either MANDS, SAIN or COOP to 60022. Voting will close at 23.59 on Friday 11 September.
Richard Johnson, judge, TV presenter and journalist, says: "There is a growing consumer demand for welfare-friendly products which doesn't seem to have been affected by the economic downturn. TV coverage on the plight of chickens and pigs has had a profound effect on the public and customers want to buy from supermarkets who make being animal-friendly easy by using suppliers that rear their animals with humanity."
David Bowles, RSPCA Head of External Affairs says: "Through the People's Choice Supermarket award we want to give the public a chance to voice their opinions and reward the supermarket they believe has listened to them and made the biggest strides in improving animal welfare.
"This is the fifth year of the Good Business Awards and we felt it was important to reward the efforts being made by supermarkets that go the extra mile to promote animal welfare and recognise that consumers haven’t left behind their ethics in a quest for value."
Finalists for the People's Choice Supermarket award are:
The Co-operative, for a continued commitment to animal welfare. The Co-operative is a high volume retailer that applies animal welfare policies right across their product ranges. Achievements include:
- First retailer to adopt RSPCA Freedom Food scheme in 1994 - stocks one of the largest ranges.
- Stopped selling eggs from caged hens - by end of 2009 all eggs as ingredients will also be free range.
- All fresh & frozen chicken is reared to higher welfare Elmwood standard – with natural ventilation, 30% more space, an enriched environment and 50% more darkness for rest. This improves the lives of 20 million chickens each year.
- Truly Irresistible fresh pork, bacon and sausage ranges are from Freedom Food approved farms.
M&S, for its position as a trailblazer and its commitment to animal welfare through investment in research and a group of dedicated suppliers. Achievements include:
- 100% free-range policy for whole eggs since 1997 and for eggs as ingredients since 2002.
- Since 2002 all fresh chicken is either Oakham or free range Oakham chicken - slower grown with more space allowance and objects to peck and perch on.
- All fresh pork is outdoor bred and a proportion is free range.
- Banned continental white veal in 2008 and moved to higher welfare British veal.
Sainsbury's, for its ability to provide good value for money without compromising on animal welfare. Achievements include:
- Stopped selling eggs from caged hens February 2009, improving the welfare of over half a million hens.
- Own-brand Woodland Eggs and Woodland Chicken provides increased shelter and results in better animal welfare for a significant numbers of birds.
- All Scottish salmon is sustainably sourced and farmed to Freedom Food standards.
- The supermarket has the largest range of RSPCA Freedom Food labelled products – chicken, eggs, duck, turkey, pork and salmon.
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 public can vote online via The Independent (www.independent.co.uk/voterspca) or by texting either MANDS, SAIN or COOP to 60022. Public voting will close in September and the winner will be announced at the awards ceremony on Wednesday, 7 October.
2. The other categories in the RSPCA Good Business Awards are Fashion, Cosmetics, Independent Food Retailers and Restaurants & Pubs.
3. 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.
4. Entrants to the Supermarket of the year People’s Choice award 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.
Pubs and restaurants compete to be named the UK’s most ethical eateries
Cosmetic giants battle it out to be named the UK's most animal-friendly cosmetics company
High street giants battle it out to be named the UK’s most animal-friendly fashion retailer
