Last night, The RSPCA held its prestigious Good Business Awards ceremony in central London, which revealed the public’s favourite ethical supermarket.
The aim of these awards, now in their fifth year, is to encourage businesses to implement policies that will have a positive impact on animal welfare, so massive congratulations to The Co-op who is now crowned ‘People’s Choice Supermarket’, with 59 percent of the votes!
The Co-operative - Ian Burgess, Robert McBride picking up their award
This year, The RSPCA partnered with daily newspaper, The Independent, who offered the public the opportunity to vote for their favourite animal-friendly supermarket – the one they felt was putting animal welfare first. The shortlist, chosen by a panel of judges, was announced in August and the public were able to vote for Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s or The Co-operative – I have included their principle achievements below, but the clear winner was Co-operative, making the biggest strides to improve animal welfare – Rock on Co-op!
Sainsbury’s should also be proud to have received the award for most improved supermarket, for its continued commitment to deliver on animal welfare values and principles, including having the largest range of Freedom Food labelled products.
David Bowles, Head of External Affairs for the RSPCA said, “Through the People’s Choice Award we wanted to give the public a chance to voice their opinions and reward the supermarket they believe has listened to them and made the biggest strides in improving animal welfare… in the eyes of the public the Co-operative was the clear winner taking over half of the vote. This is the fifth year of the Good Business Awards and we felt it was important to reward the efforts being made by supermarkets that go the extra mile to promote animal welfare and recognise that consumers haven’t left behind their concerns for good animal welfare practices in a quest for value.”
Here is a short summary of the three finalist’s achievements:
M&S
- All whole and ingredient eggs free-range
- All fresh chicken free-range, or higher welfare standards
- All fresh pork outdoor-bred
- Continental white veal banned in 2008
Sainsbury’s
- All whole eggs free-range
- Own eggs/chicken brand improves shelter for birds
- Largest range of RSPCA Freedom Food products
- All Scottish salmon sustainably sourced and Freedom Food approved
The Co-operative
- All whole eggs free-range
- All fresh and frozen chicken reared to higher welfare standards
- First to adopt RSPCA Freedom Food in 1994
- Own-label Freedom Food approved pork ranges
These are all fantastic achievements, but I had hoped that all supermarkets would be working to this level by now – clearly not – so shame on the others for not making it to the finals!
There were three overall categories, Cosmetics, Fashion and Food – I have pasted a list of the winners in the food category below, but details on the others can be found on the award’s website.
Food winners
Independent Restaurants
* Restaurant Alimentum Winner
Pubs
* The Duke of Cambridge Winner
* The Feathers Inn Innovation Award
Restaurant Chains
* McDonalds Innovation Award
Food Studies page
* Edge and Son Winners
* Abel and Cole Highly Commended
Supermarkets
* The Co-Operative Peoples Choice Supermarket
* Sainsbury’s Most Improved
