Eight Prominent Hospitality Businesses Withdraw from the Better Chicken Commitment to Launch New Initiative
A collaborative effort from eight leading hospitality companies, which collectively own or franchise 18 popular brands such as Nando’s, Burger King, and KFC, has resulted in a significant announcement: they are officially withdrawing from the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC). In place of this initiative, they have introduced the Sustainable Chicken Forum (SCF). The SCF aims to “advance chicken welfare while balancing environmental sustainability, carbon reduction, and supply pressures.” This new approach seeks to address current challenges in the poultry sector with a fresh perspective.
A Collective Commitment to Chicken Welfare
The eight businesses making this strategic shift include notable players like BKUK Group Limited (Burger King UK), Yum! Brands (KFC UK & Ireland, Pizza Hut UK, Taco Bell UK), Nando’s UK & IRE, and The Big Table Group, which operates brands such as Banana Tree, Bella Italia, Las Iguanas, and Frankie & Benny’s. According to the group, the SCF represents a “collective commitment” aimed at taking a more “holistic view” of chicken production. This new initiative directly addresses critical aspects such as welfare, environmental impact, and food security in tandem, ensuring a balanced approach to poultry production.
The Sustainable Chicken Forum will focus on several key areas:
- Advance chicken welfare across each business’s supply chain, guided by science-based welfare outcomes.
- Utilize robust reporting mechanisms to track and demonstrate progress across the hospitality sector.
- Champion continuous improvements in chicken welfare standards.
- Explore additional research opportunities to tackle challenges in the poultry sector, particularly in balancing welfare improvements with environmental impact and maintaining a consistent supply.
- Engage in policy development that supports British poultry supply within both European and global contexts. In the UK, the group advocates for unified poultry policies that address restrictive planning regulations while aligning animal welfare and agricultural priorities.
According to a statement from the group, this decision follows significant progress made by the businesses against the BCC welfare framework. They articulated that they no longer believe the BCC represents the best framework for advancing welfare due to its stipulation to source only slower-growing breeds. The group argues that this requirement overlooks the broader implications for the poultry supply chain.
“The choices and the decisions that the organisations in the chicken supply chain need to make are not straightforward.”
Dr. Louise Manning, an expert in agri-food supply chains, commented on the complexities involved: “The choices and the decisions that the organisations in the chicken supply chain need to make are not straightforward. In a challenging environment where ensuring a secure, affordable, and consistent food supply is critical, stakeholders must minimize the impact of UK production on the environment while also guaranteeing continued employment in regions with limited alternative opportunities. Evidence-based leadership is therefore essential in guiding the sector.”
The announcement of the SCF has elicited criticism from various welfare organizations, including the RSPCA and Compassion in World Farming, which labeled the departure from the BCC as “deeply disappointing.” Their concerns highlight the balance between business interests and animal welfare.
Welfare and Sustainability: Ensuring High Standards
Will Raw, chair of the National Farmers’ Union Poultry Board, emphasized the importance of animal welfare within the UK poultry production sector: “Animal welfare is a key priority for poultry producers, and in the UK, we adhere to some of the highest welfare standards globally. We continually aspire for improvement and are eager to collaborate throughout the supply chain to achieve this. Any alterations to established standards must be rooted in scientific evidence and developed in close partnership with poultry producers to ensure clear benefits for bird welfare.”
Moreover, Richard Griffiths, chief executive of the British Poultry Council (BPC), expressed his positive view on the establishment of the Sustainable Chicken Forum: “The announcement of a Sustainable Chicken Forum is most welcome. Not only does it recognize that sustainability must be grounded in practical delivery, but it also reflects a growing consensus that frameworks must be workable if they are to endure.”
He further stated, “British poultry meat businesses are currently balancing welfare, environmental stewardship, and food security amidst a landscape of uncertainty, escalating production costs, and planning barriers. To advance more effectively, we need to encourage investment rather than impose additional costs and expectations that hinder our progress.”
Griffiths concluded by noting, “Industry has proven time and again that when solutions are created in partnership with those who need to execute them, meaningful progress follows. Whether in terms of welfare or environmental impact, sustainability must be constructed on a foundation that is robust and reliable.”
