NOBLE FOODS is one of a handful of businesses that have been considered the best in the world at transparently improving animal welfare.
The UK’s largest egg packer kept its position as a company “declaring improved welfare impacts for a reasonable proportion of farm animals in their operations”.
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Only four businesses sit in the top tier of the benchmark, which is now in its tenth year, with Premier Foods the only other primary producer making the top rank.
Retailers Waitrose and Marks & Spencer were also deemed Tier 1 businesses.
Cranswick, which last year featured in Tier 1 has fallen to Tier 2 in the latest Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW).
The report does not explain precisely why a business might have moved up or down the rankings.
Other UK poultry companies in the listing include 2 Sisters Food Group (tier 3) and ABF (Tier 4).
“We are incredibly proud to have again retained our top tier status for our animal welfare practice by the BBFAW. Our colleagues and producer partners work extremely hard, every day, to maintain the highest possible standards of animal welfare, and we are delighted that this dedication and commitment continues to be recognised.”
Jean-Paul Michalski, agriculture director at Noble Foods, said: “We are incredibly proud to have again retained our top tier status for our animal welfare practice by the BBFAW.
“Our colleagues and producer partners work extremely hard, every day, to maintain the highest possible standards of animal welfare, and we are delighted that this dedication and commitment continues to be recognised.”
Welfare
Nicky Amos, executive director of the BBFAW, said: “The BBFAW set out in 2012 to put farm animal welfare on the business and investor agenda, and to significantly advance corporate management practice and disclosure on the issue.
“Ten years on, these objectives have been realised.
“Today, around 80% of the 150 companies assessed by BBFAW have strengthened their governance of farm animal welfare through formal policy commitments, objectives, and targets.
“While this provides a strong foundation for action, companies need to demonstrate that their investments in farm animal welfare are delivering positive welfare impacts for animals on the ground.”
