A glittering night for Waitrose at Compassion in World Farmings annual Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards

Waitrose and its exclusive pork supplier BQP were big winners at Compassion in World Farmings Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards last week. Waitrose scooped a Good Pig Award for their commitment to using high welfare pork across their entire own-brand range of products, including its everyday Essential Waitrose range. Hosted by top cook, food writer and broadcaster Valentine Warner at the Honourable Artillery Company in London, the awards, now in their sixth year, recognise and award food companies that are committed to implementing substantial policy changes that result in positive impacts for farm animals. Valentine commented: As a cook, Im passionate about the quality of the ingredients I use and to me that means using high welfare products wherever possible. With more than 900 million farm animals reared each year for food in the UK its important for all of us to try to ensure that they have lived as good a quality of life as possible. Its heartening to see in these economically challenging times so many companies making such a tremendous commitment in this area. Waitrose says it is proud that the unique architecture of the working relationship with BQP is seen by the British Pig Industry and the National Pig Association as a blueprint for the industry. All of Waitroses own brand pork, sausages, bacon and gammon, pork pies, sausage rolls and scotch eggs as well as the pork used in sandwiches and ready meals, comes from outdoor bred pigs as a minimum standard (excluding continental meats such as Parma ham). The animals are reared in light, airy barns with fresh straw bedding and environmental enrichment to encourage rooting and play behaviour. Waitrose is dedicated to ensuring a viable and thriving future for all British farmers and invests a great deal of effort in sharing best practice, developing relationships and finding solutions to issues that face the sector. They work with dedicated farms and buy the whole pig carcass to allow its suppliers to invest in sustainable farming methods and high animal welfare standards, while keeping retail prices competitive to encourage customers to buy pork.

Heather Jenkins, Director of Agricultural Strategy, Waitrose, said: "Good animal welfare is a priority and a key point of difference for Waitrose. That our work and the efforts of our farmers have been recognised by this important award from Compassion in World Farming is absolutely fantastic and a real endorsement of our approach to pig farming." Steve McIvor, Director of Food Business, Compassion in World Farming, said: Waitrose has a clear commitment to ensuring welfare is at the heart of its business. We have been working with Waitrose for over 10 years and are delighted that we are able to recognise their achievements once again. Our Good Pig Award is one of our most challenging awards yet and for Waitrose to win it across so many categories is an enormous accomplishment.