Waitrose has confirmed a major leap in animal welfare within its own-brand Italian meats.
- The retailer’s Parma ham, mortadella, and prosciutto now meet the highest welfare standards.
- These measures ensure animals have sufficient space and freedom within Waitrose’s supply chain.
- This shift addresses the previously lower welfare standards in Italian meat compared to British products.
- Waitrose has been a pioneer since its 2016 Good Pig Award with The Compleat Food Group.
Waitrose has taken a significant step in animal welfare by ensuring all its own-brand Italian continental meats, including Parma ham, mortadella, and prosciutto, meet the highest standards. This initiative ensures the animals are raised in environments where they have ample space to roam and socialise, and are provided with deep straw bedding. In doing so, Waitrose addresses historical gaps in the welfare quality of continental meats compared to those produced in the United Kingdom.
The retailer’s commitment to confinement-free farming extends beyond the UK, aiming for comprehensive change across all its continental meat supply chains by 2025. This advancement illustrates Waitrose’s proactive stance towards improving agricultural standards in Italy.
Jake Pickering, Waitrose’s senior agriculture manager, described this achievement as a “huge step forward” for the welfare standards within the company’s Italian breeding, growing, and finishing supply chains. According to Pickering, this means that over 50% of Waitrose’s continental meat sales are now derived from higher welfare sources.
Compassion in World Farming has recognised Waitrose’s efforts, specifically citing the backing and their Good Pig Award, as indicators of meaningful progress. Louise Valducci, Compassion in World Farming’s Head of Food Business for Europe, commended Waitrose’s initiatives. Valducci highlighted the increasing consumer consciousness about animal welfare, emphasising that commitments to cage-free production send strong, positive messages to the market.
Waitrose has set a benchmark for animal welfare in Italian continental meats, highlighting its leadership in ethical farming practices.
