Greggs plc

03/30/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/30/2021 08:37

Greggs announced as a leader in Farm Animal Welfare as it retains Tier 2 rating for fifth year

The ninth annual Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare, backed by Compassion in World Farming and World Animal Protection, evaluates the world's leading food producers, retailers and service companies on their management and reporting on farm animal welfare.

Greggs has been acknowledged for its leadership on farm animal welfare in a report published March 2021.

The ninth annual Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare, backed by Compassion in World Farming and World Animal Protection, evaluates the world's leading food producers, retailers and service companies on their management and reporting on farm animal welfare.

The 2020 Benchmark covers 150 global food companies, ranging from Tier 6 (No evidence on the business agenda) to leadership Tiers 1 and 2. Greggs is proud to retain its Tier 2 status against toughening criteria, demonstrating that Farm Animal Welfare is integral to its business strategy.

Malcolm Copland, Commercial Director at Greggs commented: ' We are delighted to have been acknowledged for our continued focus and leadership on farm animal welfare in BBFAW's 2020 Report. We are especially proud to be leading the way amongst our competitors in the restaurants and bars sector with our Tier 2 rating.

'Animal welfare is a priority for Greggs. So much so that as part of 'The Greggs Pledge' - our first Sustainability Report launched earlier this year - we are making the public commitment that by 2025, we will secure and maintain Tier 1 in the BBFAW Animal Welfare standard. To do this, we are stepping up our efforts in the areas of management commitment, policy, governance and performance monitoring.

'As with other environmental and social issues, we have found that progress in farm animal welfare requires a continuous process of monitoring, improvement and collaboration. While there are no quick wins, we have proved that it is possible to offer customers high quality, ethically sourced food, at affordable prices.

'We now intend to raise the bar even higher, and by the end of 2021, will have developed and implemented our roadmap to achieve Tier 1 rating, ensuring we are on course to achieve our bold ambition of securing and maintaining Tier 1 by 2025.'

Nicky Amos, Executive Director of the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare, said: 'The 2020 findings show how BBFAW is driving corporate action on farm animal welfare, with around two-thirds of companies actively managing the business risks and opportunities associated with farm animal welfare, and 79% of companies having committed to improvement objectives and targets linked to farm animal welfare. The progress made by companies on managing farm animal welfare since the BBFAW's inception in 2012 is remarkable and should be applauded. However, as BBFAW enters its tenth year, our expectation is that companies need to demonstrate how their management commitments are translating into improved welfare impacts for animals on the ground.

'The BBFAW has also announced that in 2021 - the tenth annual Benchmark cycle - it welcomes FOUR PAWS, the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, as a supporting partner. FOUR PAWS will take over from World Animal Protection who, alongside Compassion in World Farming International, has steered the BBFAW since its inception in 2012. The BBFAW is extremely grateful to World Animal Protection for its vision, dedication, technical expertise and financial support over the past nine years. FOUR PAWS and BBFAW founding partner, Compassion in World Farming International, will together play an instrumental role in providing the BBFAW programme with technical expertise, guidance, funding and practical resources as the programme enters its second decade.'