An estimated 28% of the UK chicken supply will be compliant with the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) by the end of 2026, amounting to roughly 300 million chickens a year, according to a new report from animal welfare organisation The Humane League.
Its annual State of the Chicken Industry report, which was published this month, states that over 333 companies in the UK and EU have committed to the BCC, an increase of 38% since the end of last year.
The report criticises retailers who have declined to take part in the scheme, which requires broilers to be grown with lower stocking densities than standard Red Tractor assured birds, more enrichment, and slower growing breeds. Currently in the UK, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer are converting their entire chicken supply base to the scheme. Other retailers are stocking select ranges which comply with the standard.
Over 333 companies in the restaurant, food service and manufacturing sectors have signed onto the BCC, including outlets like KFC, Greggs, Nando’s, Kraft-Heinz, Compass Group and Nestlé, the largest food company in the world. In June 2022 Starbucks UK became the latest major brand to sign onto the BCC.
Sean Gifford, managing director at The Humane League UK, said: “The BCC is the future. The last year saw more iconic brands commit, and even the Government now endorses the policy.”
Both Greggs and Waitrose contributed to the report. Jake Pickering, Waitrose senior agriculture manager, said: “We want to continue to lead the way on farm animal welfare, it’s what our customers expect and what our farmers are passionate about. We owe farm animals a good life and this should be an ambition across the entire food sector. Customers expect high standards and we have proved we can offer good value for money while treating farmers and animals fairly. This isn’t just the case for our more premium products but across all our fresh, frozen and ingredient chicken.”