Sainsbury's

In 2010, Sainsbury’s received a Good Chicken Award for committing to source their own brand fresh chicken (within 5 years) to a reduced stocking density of 30kg/m2 (moving down from 38/m2), to provide the birds with enrichment and natural light, and to using a slower-growing breed of bird.

In 2018, Sainsbury’s made the decision to withdraw from their Good Chicken Award commitments, having made little progress on converting to 100% higher welfare fresh chicken.

Today, less than 20% of the fresh chicken Sainsbury’s sell is higher welfare (which includes RSPCA Assured, Free-Range and Organic chicken). All their other chicken is reared to the Red Tractor standard: maximum stocking density 38kg/m², with pecking substrates such as straw bales and the provision of natural light is recommended. Sainsbury’s has retracted their commitments on reducing stocking density from 38kg/m2 to 30kg/m2 and to using a slower-growing breed of chicken.