Avara Foods has completed the switch to a new agricultural programme across all its supplying broiler farms, reducing the stocking density of birds to 30kg per square metre, down from the previous, Red Tractor, standard of 38kg.
On 29 March 2025, chicks were placed on the final broiler farm to transfer to a new, lower, stocking density.
The switch reflects commitments by the majority of UK retailers to sell their core range of fresh primary chicken, a key purchase for over 90% of UK consumers, to birds reared at a lower stocking density.
Chris Hall, the company’s incoming chief executive, said: “Switching our programme to a lower stocking density is another step forward in quality and higher welfare with our customers, supplied here in the UK to standards shoppers can trust. Our retail customers have made a commitment and we know, though our insight, that consumers are increasingly interested in the welfare and sustainability credentials of the food they buy. That’s why it’s been important for us to carefully manage those requirements: improving welfare while reducing our environmental footprint, while recognising that our cost of production must remain competitive, here in the UK to protect food security for the public.”