UK’s Food Leaders Recognised at Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards

Compassion in World Farming held its Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards (GFAWA) in Paris today (21 October), recognising 49 winners from over 15 countries. Four food companies from the UK were recognised for their leadership in improving farm animal welfare and promoting more sustainable supply chains.

Hosted by Deborah Meaden, Compassion’s Patron and sustainable business advocate and star of the BBC’s Dragon’s Den, the event celebrated businesses whose commitments will positively benefit the lives of over 500 million animals annually.

The winners in the UK were:

• Marks & Spencer, food retailer, Special Recognition Award (Innovation Award category)
• Waitrose, food retailer, ‘Corporate’ Sustainable Food & Farming Award
• Lidl GB, food retailer, Bronze Level Planet Friendly Award
• Hill’s Pet Nutrition, petfood manufacturer, Good Egg Award

M &S has traditionally been a leader in farmed animal welfare in the UK retail industry.  With over 300 food stores across the UK, covering 3.6% of food market share, M&S continue to challenge themselves to improve welfare across their entire supply chain, for both terrestrial and aquatic animals. Through strategic partnerships with their shrimp producers, and with support from FAI Farms, they have developed a comprehensive protocol to monitor the health and welfare of shrimp in their supply chain.

Their initiative aims to enhance shrimp welfare and support scientific research to address knowledge gaps and drive progress. They have successfully established a shrimp supply chain free of mutilations, which directly improves welfare standards, and by providing farmers with training and tools, they are advancing all aspects of shrimp welfare throughout the entire life cycle.

The retailer now exclusively sources from producers who do not practice eye-stalk ablation – a cruel practice involving the removal of one of the shrimp's eyes, believed to boost egg production – integrating this as a core requirement in their Select Farm standards. They have also defined new outcome measures and initiated electric stunning trials, rolling out new stunners and developing updated harvest protocols. As a result, approximately 300 million shrimp annually will benefit from this work.

Waitrose has long been a leader in animal welfare within the UK grocery sector, and they are now expanding their commitment to sustainability by trialling more nature-friendly production processes at their 2,800-acre Leckford Estate in Hampshire. This includes a focus on regenerative and low-carbon farming. A third of the estate is dedicated solely to biodiversity, while the rest operates with a focus on farming in harmony with nature, enhancing biodiversity through regenerative practices.

Waitrose began taking a regenerative approach to farming on the Estate in 2019, and after five years of rigorous testing and measurement, they are expanding this initiative to eight satellite farms as part of a broader effort to transition their entire UK supply chain to regenerative farming. This is further strengthened by Waitrose’s pledge to source UK meat, milk, eggs, fruit, and vegetables from farms using regenerative practices by 2035.

Since adopting regenerative practices, Waitrose has reported significant environmental benefits, including increased biodiversity, improved soil health, reduced carbon emissions, and a decrease in the use of chemical inputs. To share their insights and encourage the wider adoption of regenerative methods, Waitrose plans to transform Leckford Estate into a Regenerative Agriculture Centre of Excellence, offering education and inspiration for farmers looking to implement these sustainable practices on their own farms.

Andrew Hoad, Head of Leckford Estate, said: “We need a resilient food system that is kinder to nature and recognises the incredible value of healthy soil. We think a regenerative approach has the potential to do this. We are excited to extend our work at Leckford by now working with other farmers in supporting transition to regenerative agriculture across our UK based farmers and growers.”

Lidl GB received a Bronze Level Planet Friendly Award for being the first UK retailer to launch an ambitious protein strategy to shift the proportion of protein sales to 25% plant-based by 2030, supporting a move towards meeting the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet and leading the industry in sustainable food transitions.

Hill's Pet Nutrition is a petfood manufacturer and the recognised global leader in nutritional health care for cats and dogs. In 2024, they will meet their commitment to be 100% cage-free in Europe for all the eggs and egg products they buy, achieving this goal one year ahead of their original 2025 deadline. Hill's Pet Nutrition is the first petfood manufacturer in Europe to reach this target.

Gerald Mastio, Executive Vice President & EMEA General Manager, Hill's Pet Nutrition, said: “Receiving the CIWF Good Egg Award is a testament to our unwavering commitment: every animal deserves compassion. We collaborate closely with our suppliers and industry experts, such as CIWF, to ensure our egg sourcing reflects our values. Together, we're shaping a more humane and sustainable future for farm animals and our industry."

A record number of awards were presented to companies leading the cage-free movement for hens, sows and rabbits, reinforcing Compassion’s mission to ‘End the Cage Age’. These leading companies are proving that cage-free production is not only viable and the right thing to do - but beneficial for their customers, their brand and for the animals in their supply chain.

Corporate support is essential for achieving an EU wide cage ban and Compassion’s recent report shows how some European companies are leading the way.  At the Awards ceremony, Compassion’s Global CEO, Philip Lymbery, hosted a Q&A with Francesco Tramontin, VP Global Public Affairs at Ferrero, who shared the companies cage-free journey and their support for the EU cage ban, inspiring others to follow suit.

This year’s Awards have showcased the remarkable progress that companies worldwide are making toward more humane and sustainable food production. These trailblazers are not only setting a powerful example for others but also demonstrating that meaningful change is not only possible but also profoundly beneficial for animals, people, and our planet.

​Deborah Meaden commented: “It’s inspiring to see so many businesses around the world making significant strides in animal welfare and sustainability. These awards shine a light on the growing number of companies dedicated to making positive change, at such a crucial time for farmed animals and the environment. Compassion’s expert Food Business team is uniquely positioned to support companies in transforming the lives of millions of animals and building a food system that is fit for the future.”

Dr Tracey Jones, Global Director for Food Business, Compassion in World Farming concluded: “The geographical diversity, range of species, and the vast number of animals set to benefit from this year’s award winners is truly remarkable.  With businesses represented not only from Europe and the UK, but also from India, Japan, China, Thailand, New Zealand, and across the Atlantic to Brazil, Chile, and the USA, the global reach of Compassion’s message for positive change is clearly evident. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the winners.

“While advancing animal welfare is important, it’s critical that we begin to transform our entire food system. Many of this year’s winners are leading the way by farming in harmony with nature, reducing reliance on animal proteins, and driving innovation. They stand as shining examples, proving that real change is possible—not only for the welfare of millions of farm animals, but also for the health of people and the planet.

“Our award winners have taken decisive action, demonstrating that successful business models can thrive while prioritising animal welfare. Cages are the very symbol of factory farming, and it’s inspiring to see so many companies dismantling that system and paving the way for a brighter future. To create a truly future-fit food system, we now need legislators to follow their exemplary lead.”

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For more information please email media.team@ciwf.org or call 01483 521 615.

Notes to Editors 

Full List of GFAWA 2024 Winners:

Good Egg Awards:

1. Ferrero (Manufacturer – Global)
2. Hainan Xin Nong Biological Technology Co., Ltd - Coconut Grove Eggs (Producer – China)
3. Happy Hens (Producer - India)
4. Hill’s Pet Nutrition (Manufacturer – EU)
5. Joyful Farm in Carbon-neutral Woods (Food Service – China)
6. Kipster (Producer – US)
7. Klong Phai Farm (Producer – Thailand)
8. Lidl (Retailer - Poland)
9. Lidl (Retailer – Spain)
10. Natura Farm brands: ‘Natura Cage-Free Eggs’ and ‘Ecocco’ (Producer – Japan)
11. Planalto Ovos Ltda (Producer – Brazil)
12. Sizenhoubokujyou Otafuku Tamago (Producer – Japan)
13. Than-Kuhn Farm (Producer – Thailand)

Good Egg Production Awards (Producers – China):

1. 4 Star Award - Shandong Green Pine Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd.
2. 5 Star Award - Longyan Felicity Animal Husbandry Development Co., LTD

Good Chicken Awards:

1. Applegate Farms (Manufacturer – US)
2. Campfire Treats (Manufacturer – US)
3. Evermore Pet Food (Manufacturer - US)
4. Labelle Patrimoine (Producer – US)
5. Wild Nosh Pets (Manufacturer – US)

Good Chicken Production Awards (Producers - China):

1. 5 Star Award - Longyan Felicity Animal Husbandry Development Co., LTD
2. 5 Star Award - Guangdong Tinoo's Foods Group Co.ltd
3. 5 Star Award - Hainan Chuanwei Wenchang Chicken Industry Co., Ltd. Farm
4. 4 Star Award - GuiZhou Great Endeavour Husbandry Co. Ltd

Good Turkey Award:

1. Klong Phai Farm (Producer – Thailand)

Good Pig Awards:

1. Bompieri Allevamenti (Producer – Italy)
2. Madeo Tenuta Corone (Producer – Italy)
3. Piggly (Producer – Italy)
4. Riserva 1878 by Citterio (Producer – Italy)
5. San Giuseppe (Producer – Italy)

Good Sow Commendation:

1. Niman Ranch (Producer – US)
2. White Oak Pastures (Producer – US)

Sow Stall Free Award:

1. KPS Farm (Producer – Thailand)

Good Dairy Commendation:

1. Fonterra (Manufacturer – New Zealand)
2. Max Havelaar (Branch of Fairtrade International Certification – France)

Good Calf Commendation:

1. Kalverliefde (Producer – Netherlands)

Good Rabbit Commendation:

1. Les Mousquetaires (Retailer – France)
2. White Oak Pastures (Producer – US)

Best Innovation Award:

1. Zonvarken (Producer - Netherlands)

Aquaculture Innovation Award:

1. Regal Springs (Producer - Global)

Special Recognition Award (Best Innovation category)

1. Albert Heijn (Retailer – NL)
2. M&S (Retailer - UK)

Best Marketing Award:

1. Kalverliefde (Producer - Netherlands)

Special Recognition Award

1. Cermaq (Producer – Global)

Sustainable Food & Farming Awards:

1. Sustainable Food & Farming Award – Corporate – Waitrose (Retailer - UK)
2. Sustainable Food & Farming Award – Producer – White Oak Pastures (Producer - US)
3. Special Recognition Award - Finca Regenerativa Valle del Conde (Producer – Spain)

Planet Friendly Awards:

1. Lidl UK – ‘Bronze’ level Planet Friendly Award (Retailer - UK)
2. Compass Group France – ‘Gold’ level Planet Friendly Award – (Food Service – FR)