Aldi is set to provide higher welfare standards for chickens through the introduction of new stocking density requirements for its fresh chicken supplier.
The supermarket‘s transition to the higher welfare standard is due to be completed by end the of October 2024, which will see Aldi’s fresh chicken having 20% more space than the industry standard.
It is understood this will allow animals more space to engage in natural behaviours such as stretching wings, dust bathing and roaming, with greater access to environmental enrichment such as straw bales, perches, pecking objects and natural light.
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The initiatives come as a part of the discounter’s transition to higher welfare standards, including its commitment to multi-million pound financial support for its chicken farmers and suppliers over the course of 2024/25.
Aldi managing director of buying Julie Ashfield said: “Animal welfare is of paramount importance to us. We’re already one of the UK’s largest providers of responsibly farmed chicken and we’ve been working hard with our suppliers to reduce stocking density to help us improve the living conditions of these animals even further.
“Thanks to this latest improvement, customers will be provided with access to higher welfare chicken at the same great value that can’t be matched.”
Aldi’s change follows on from similar moves by other retailers such as Lidl, which unveiled plans in March to improve its chicken welfare standards by increasing space to its own-label fresh chicken by 20%, above current industry standards.
