Published 06/07/2011

Compassion's Food Business Team has awarded 48 organisations that are committed to taking steps towards higher animal welfare.

TV chef and farm animal welfare advocate, Paul Merrett hosted Compassion in World Farming's Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards at Freemasons' Hall in Covent Garden on Wednesday 6 July 2011.

Other celebrity guests included the BBC Food Presenter, Nigel Barden, broadcaster and writer Allegra McEvedy MBE, and actress Alexandra Bastedo. Brian Blessed wowed the audience through his narration of a short film , inspiring the industry to take steps to improve the future of dairy farming.

Compassion's Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards is now in its 5th year, and to date, over 205 million animals are set to benefit each year as a result of Good Awards Winners policies. This year, the ceremony congratulated organisations in four categories - The Supermarket Awards, The Good Dairy Award, The Good Chicken Award and The Good Egg Award, in addition to recognising Leaders in Pig Welfare.

Linda McCartney and Mr Kipling were among the winners of Good Egg Awards. Waitrose was among the winners, being given Compassion's prestigious Most Compassionate Supermarket.

The evening also recognised producers who are leading the way in terms of better pig welfare. Our Leaders in Pig Welfare demonstrated higher welfare for sows and pigs that is possible in UK systems, paving the way for the industry to aim for a Good Pig Award when it is launched in 2012.

Brian Blessed said: "Congratulations to Compassion in World Farming on another successful event and for its relentless work in pushing the boundaries of higher welfare for farm animals. It's great to see so many companies taking the issue of higher animal welfare seriously and getting involved in these awards."

And the 2011 winners are...

Supermarket Award winners:

• Waitrose: Most Compassionate Supermarket
• Sainsbury's: Best Volume Supermarket
• The Co-operative: Most Improved Supermarket

Good Egg Award winners: Aramark, Baxter Storey, Caterlink, Clarence Court Eggs Ltd, Cook Trading Ltd, Creed Food Service, Cygnet, Holroyd Howe Independent, ISS Education, Laverstoke Park Farm, Linda McCartney, London 2012 Olympic Games, Mr Kipling, Napp Pharmaceuticals, Pabulum, Rail Gourmet, Stokes Sauces, The Happy Egg Co., Ocado, Heineken, IKEA UK

Good Chicken Award winners: Lake House Table, National Trust, Packington Poultry, The Black Farmer, Traditional Norfolk Poultry

Good Calf Commendations: Brookfield Farm, Dovecote Park Ltd. Sainsbury's

Good Dairy Commendation: Marks & Spencer's

Good Dairy Awards: ASDA, Ben & Jerry's, The Co-operative Food, Green & Blacks, Laverstoke Park Farm, OMSCo, Waitrose, Yeo Valley, Beemster Cheese

Leadership in Pig Welfare Certificates: Bishop Burton College, Braemer Farm, Brydock Farms, Dent Ltd, Laverstoke Park Farm, Packington Pork