In partnership with Moy Park and our trusted farmers, our by Sainsbury’s chickens are now reared with a maximum average stocking density of <30kg/m2 and enhanced environmental enrichment. Stocking density is the rate at which birds are housed in a shed, calculated on a per metre squared basis. Our by Sainsbury’s chickens will be provided with 20% more space than the industry standard of 38kg/m2, as well as additional stimuli in their living environment: extra enrichment bales, pecking objects and platforms for perching. These enrichment opportunities provide a safe and healthier environment and give chickens the freedom to express their natural behaviours, promoting their overall quality of life.

These improved welfare standards are independently verified through third-party auditing, which specifically focus on ensuring the correct stocking density and enrichment are provided. These audits ensure prescribed input standards are upheld and occur alongside the collection of health and welfare outcome data. We monitor the health and welfare of chickens in our supply chains using an outcome-based approach, measuring key indicators specifically collected for us, which we have developed and collated in line with industry best practice and veterinary and industry experts. Welfare outcomes measure the health, physical condition, performance, and behaviour of animals, allowing our farmers to take a ‘measure and manage’ approach. We collect our unique set of key health and welfare indicators on every flock, and report these in our annual Animal Health & Welfare Report. 

We also work collaboratively with scientific experts, Moy Park, and farmers across a number of research and development projects. These projects include 24/7, 365 real-time monitoring of welfare on by Sainsbury’s chicken farms using artificial intelligence (AI). We are currently undergoing trials with this technology with a view to obtain a comparison of bird behaviour and welfare pre- and post- our improved welfare standards. We also use thermal imaging as an indicator of welfare, to establish the effectiveness of feather cover as a welfare indicator among by Sainsbury’s chickens, and to develop a methodology for the rapid assessment of this.

This move, in partnership with Moy Park and our trusted farmers, will allow us to provide our customers with improved welfare chicken, with the same great value. The transition was completed in March 2023, with chicken stocked as a minimum standard across fresh produce.

We run regular sessions with our Sainsbury’s Chicken Farmer Group, to gather opinions, discuss research topics, and share learning and best practice. 

Farm Manager, Moy Park farm “This partnership is a fantastic step forward for both Sainsbury’s and Moy Park. The new improved welfare standards are extremely important to us as farmers, and means creating better environments for our birds, and providing them with that environmental enrichment. We will supply the birds with appropriate lighting, pecking objects and perches - all with the aim of creating a natural behavioural environment for the birds.”

“For me, the move to a new ‘improved welfare’ standard will greatly increase our productivity, and that of our birds, which will be even better than before. I’m really looking forward to sharing this journey with Sainsbury’s.”

As well as improved welfare, our partnership with Moy Park has allowed us to make further progress on our Plan for Better commitments.

We have been in close collaboration with Moy Park to review and understand the impact the move will have on our carbon footprint at each stage of the process. This will allow us to identify changes and investments that will support our ambition to be net zero in our own operations. Moy Park are undertaking flock-level carbon footprinting on the chickens, as well as actively promoting nature-positive initiatives on farm.

Working with Moy Park, we have identified four key areas of CO2 reduction to target. The largest of these is moving towards deforestation-free soy in our chicken feed, as signatories of the UK Soy Manifesto, as soy is currently the single biggest driver for deforestation, CO2 emissions and habitat loss within animal agriculture. 

As signatories of the UK Soy Manifesto, Sainsbury’s and Moy Park are committed to working together with our supply chains to achieve 100% deforestation and conversion free soy by 2025. We are committed to build better transparency into our soy feed supply chains and support soy farmers in South America in the production of deforestation-free soy.

Gavin Hodgson, Sainsbury's Director of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Horticulture  “The move is a critical step in our agriculture roadmap; raising the baseline of our fresh chicken offering makes it simpler for our customers to support improved welfare daily. Our transition doesn’t stop at adopting improved welfare practices, but extends right through the poultry supply chain. Working closely with Moy Park and our trusted farmers, we are reviewing our carbon footprint at each stage of the process, making changes and investments to continue our mission to help everyone eat better.”