Supermarket to reduce poultry stocking densities
25th January 2024
Morrisons has just announced it will lower its poultry stocking density to 30kg/m2 by the end of the year.
The supermarket’s own-brand fresh chicken will be grown with over 20% more space than the industry standard, to “improve and enhance animal welfare standards”.
The retailer said it has been reducing its chicken stocking density steadily over the years, “making it easier for customers to make the positive choice to support higher standards of welfare whilst remaining competitive on price”. Currently stocking density of its chicken sits at 34.2kg/m2.
Morrisons is the only retailer in Europe to ask its fresh chicken suppliers to ensure chickens are born in the barn in which they are raised, avoiding handling and transport.
Ways to improve standards
Sophie Throup, technical and sustainability director at Morrisons, said: “As British farming’s biggest direct supermarket customer, we care deeply about how our animals are grown, and we are always looking at ways with our suppliers to improve standards.
“That is why by the end of the year we will have lowered our stocking density, giving chickens more space as they grow. The changes we intend to make across all of our own-brand fresh chicken will allow customers to make more positive choices when it comes to the products they purchase as we continue our journey to improve welfare standards.”
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