Co-op members and board at odds over AGM vote on hen welfare | Co-operative Group

Feathers are flying on the Co-operative Group after hundreds of its members voted to enhance welfare for chickens reared for meat on the annual assembly on Saturday – however have been partly overruled by the corporate’s administrators, who stated they wished to maintain costs down.

A movement led by the marketing campaign group Humane League UK requested the mutual to undertake the Higher Rooster Dedication (BCC) – a set of requirements adopted by Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and the Greggs bakery chain – and report on welfare enhancements in a 12 months’s time. It was supported by 96% of the 32,000 Co-op members who voted on the AGM.

The BCC requirements embrace banning cages, giving birds area of a minimum of one sq. metre per 30kg, ditching “Frankenchicken” breeds – which develop at an accelerated price – and giving birds minimal ranges of sunshine and perch area, in addition to much less painful slaughter situations.

Campaigners stated the Co-op, which already met some BCC requirements, together with on gorgeous birds earlier than slaughter, had now agreed to offer chickens extra space, equal to the BCC requirements, however expressed disappointment it had not gone additional.

Aaron Parr, a senior campaigner on the Humane League UK and a member of the Co-op, stated: “Co-op members have overwhelmingly voted to assist chickens. It’s inspirational that tens of hundreds of members throughout the nation have determined that the merciless use and abuse of Frankenchickens is outright unsuitable. However the Co-op management has betrayed its moral and democratic values by clinging on to utilizing Frankenchickens. The Co-op exists for its members – their democratic will should not be ignored by these on the prime.”

In a response to the movement posted on its web site, the Co-op stated that its free-range hen already met the BCC requirements and that its core hen ranges met commitments on gorgeous, compliance with laws and atmosphere enrichment.

The Co-op board, which has warned that income are prone to fall within the 12 months forward amid “turbulent financial headwinds”, added that it could “proceed to think about how we are able to improve hen welfare, together with any alternatives to undertake parts of the Higher Rooster Dedication, while recognising the necessity to provide good worth to prospects”.

Its assertion stated: “We’re acutely conscious that within the present financial local weather, it’s extra vital than ever that we offer our members and prospects with good-value, high-quality, responsibly sourced hen.”