Today (27 March), we launched the latest Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW), which ranks 150 global food companies on their animal welfare policies, practices and performance.

BBFAW is supported by a coalition of institutional investors, managing over $2.4 trillion in assets, who will engage with the companies in the year ahead to drive improvement.

UK companies lead the way

The report, which is supported by us and animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS, reveals that 14 companies have moved up the tier ranking. Greggs, Marks & Spencer, Premier Foods and Waitrose are the top performers reaching ‘Tier 2’. In fact, UK-based companies dominate the upper tier rankings, and have an average overall score of 41%.

Real impact for animals

BBFAW’s Impact Rating measures whether animal welfare policies translate into real benefits for animals. Grades are based on Performance Impact questions which, for example, measure the percentage of cage-free laying hens in a company’s supply chain, or the proportion of pigs free from tail docking. Leaders here included Marks & Spencer, Premier Foods, and Fonterra who achieved a high ‘B’ grade for the first time.

Overall, 14 companies increased their Impact Rating in 2024, yet progress remains uneven. 91% of companies still rank in the lowest ‘E’ or ‘F’ tiers, highlighting a significant gap between commitments and implementation. No company has yet reached the top ‘A’ ranking.

Diversifying Food Sources

Out of the 150 companies in the Benchmark, 43 companies (29%, compared with 25% in 2023) acknowledge the need to reduce reliance on animal sourced foods with two companies – Waitrose and Hilton Food Group – scoring 85% for this set of questions compared to an average score of just 11%.

More action on animal welfare needed

It is concerning that most food companies (118 out of 150) remain in BBFAW’s bottom two tiers, providing limited or no evidence that they have policies or processes in place to manage animal welfare effectively.

Our global CEO, Philip Lymbery said: “Businesses play a critical leadership role in transforming food systems for a more sustainable and animal welfare-friendly future. A key first step is eliminating cages—and we are already making progress. As the impact of current practices weighs on people, animals, and the planet, the urgency for change will only grow.

“Every company has the power to drive meaningful progress by shifting toward higher-welfare, cage-free products, diversifying protein portfolios with more plant-based options, and embracing regenerative farming. Together, we can build a food system that respects animals, supports the planet, and creates a better future for all.”

Nicky Amos, Executive Director of the BBFAW said: “This is the second year of results since BBFAW introduced more stringent criteria and it’s encouraging to see companies responding positively with 14 companies moving up a tier, and a further 14 improving their Impact Rating.

“While the leaders are picking up the pace, clearly much more needs to be done with the large majority of food companies, including many household names, stuck in BBFAW’s bottom two tiers. Too many food companies still provide limited evidence that they are managing animal welfare effectively.”

To find out more please read the full report.