Better Chicken Commitment reveals limited progress ahead of 2026 deadline
Companies are failing to make much progress to meet the higher welfare requirements of the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), according to the latest European ChickenTrack report.
Breed changes and stocking density remained 2 of the most challenging BCC production criteria to implement and have the lowest transition rates. Only 2 of the 93 most influential European companies reported substantial progress in this area – Schiever Distribution and Waitrose – reporting 100% compliance on stocking density. An additional 6 reported 50% compliance.
Schiever Distribution was the only firm to report 100% compliance on breed, with Eataly and Monoprix also making significant progress in this area, reporting 50% compliance.
Of the 93 companies tracked – selected on geographic relevance, size and overall chicken footprint across 8 European countries – 64 reported on progress but 29 failed to disclose any updates.
However, this year, 11 companies reported on transition progress for the first time, including Eataly in Italy, which has made major strides – achieving 90% transition on stocking density, 80% on breed and 70% on controlled atmospheric stunning. Of the 11 companies, 4 are new to ChickenTrack in 2024 – the Big Mamma Group, Les 3 Brasseurs, Taiko Foods and Yo! Sushi.
Two firms demonstrated strong year-on-year progress with Compassion in World Farming noting that they deserved recognition.
- Greggs significantly improved its compliance in 2024, increasing stocking density from 49% to 65% during the year, natural light from 16% to 78% and enrichment from 64 to 85%.
- Premier Foods reported a 65% overall transition progress this year, marking a significant improvement on last year where they reported 45% compliance on stocking density and 100% compliance on CAS.
In contrast, a significant number of companies are falling behind, reporting less than 20% transition on key BCC criteria. The includes 30 companies for stocking density, 35 for slower growing breeds, 17 for natural light, 20 for enrichment and 10 for CAS. The report exposes this lack of progress as a clear wake up call, urging firms to take their commitments seriously and act decisively.
CIWF said Marks and Spencer (for fresh chicken) and Norsk Kylling had demonstrated that 100% BCC compliance was not only doable but economically viable and profitable. ChickenTrack 2024 highlights 2 other companies that are setting a strong example by publishing new BCC strategic roadmaps this year – Big Mamma Group (Europe) and Burger King (France).
Dr Tracey Jones, global director of Food Business at CIWF, said the BCC sets out 5 clear steps to improve bird welfare and ChickenTrack plays a crucial role in monitoring company progress.
“To make higher-welfare chicken the norm, we urge companies to adopt BCC and invest in meaningful change through robust action plans and transparent progress reporting. Only when companies reach 100% compliance will we achieve the full impact for chickens,” she added.
