On Saturday, Co-op members staged a demonstration at the company’s Manchester headquarters in light of an undercover investigation revealing the suffering of Frankenchickens on a Co-op farm. The protest saw members bring home-made placards and large blood-splattered membership cards, and submit hundreds of messages from Co-op members and shoppers on postcards.
Hannah Dickson, a Co-op member and protest organiser, said: “Co-op may claim that their members’ vote was not binding, but the members are the lifeblood of the Co-op. When 96% of voters call for the supermarket to improve chicken welfare we expect something to be done. We voted for change expecting that deformed, sick and dying Frankenchickens would no longer be tolerated. Giving the birds more space is good, but these chickens have misery hardwired into their DNA; even in perfect conditions they’ll suffer. I am proud to stand up for animals, and I know our membership is behind us – when will Co-op listen?”
The demonstration comes after Co-op members passed a resolution to consider adopting the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) by a 96% margin at the supermarket’s AGM in May. The motion was headed by members from animal charity The Humane League UK and called for the Co-op board to stop selling fast-growing Frankenchickens, despite the breed being one of the main sources of intense suffering for chickens raised for meat.
Actor and campaigner Peter Egan, who supported the Co-op campaign and narrated the investigation video, said: “Dozens of strong-minded Co-op members are taking to the streets to say no to Frankenchickens. The way these Frankenchickens are treated in Co-op’s supply chain is inexcusable, and it’s right for members to come together and fight for animals and their own democratic rights. Co-op is breeding sentient beings into lives of torment, disease and despair. No more excuses – Co-op must sign the BCC and become the ethical retailer it claims to be.”
An estimated 51 million birds supplied to Co-op each year would benefit from the adoption of the BCC, making the Co-op the third UK supermarket to make the pledge after Waitrose and M&S. Currently only 2% of Co-op’s chickens raised for meat are reared to higher welfare standards, as opposed to nearly 100% of their egg laying hens and pigs.
Over 350 businesses in the UK and EU have committed to the BCC so far, including major and budget food companies like KFC, Nando’s and Greggs.
On Saturday, Co-op members staged a demonstration at the company’s Manchester headquarters in response to an undercover investigation revealing the suffering of Frankenchickens on a Co-op farm. The protest saw members bring home-made placards and large blood-splattered membership cards, and submit hundreds of messages from Co-op members and shoppers on postcards.
The demonstration follows the Co-op members’ passing of a resolution at the supermarket’s AGM in May to consider adopting the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) by a 96% margin. The motion was headed by members from animal charity The Humane League UK and called for the Co-op board to stop selling fast-growing Frankenchickens, despite the breed being one of the main sources of intense suffering for chickens raised for meat.
According to Hannah Dickson, a Co-op member and protest organiser, “Co-op may claim that their members’ vote was not binding, but the members are the lifeblood of the Co-op. When 96% of voters call for the supermarket to improve chicken welfare we expect something to be done. We voted for change expecting that deformed, sick and dying Frankenchickens would no longer be tolerated. Giving the birds more space is good, but these chickens have misery hardwired into their DNA; even in perfect conditions they’ll suffer. I am proud to stand up for animals, and I know our membership is behind us – when will Co-op listen?”
Actor and campaigner Peter Egan, who supported the Co-op campaign and narrated the investigation video, said: “Dozens of strong-minded Co-op members are taking to the streets to say no to Frankenchickens. The way these Frankenchickens are treated in Co-op’s supply chain is inexcusable, and it’s right for members to come together and fight for animals and their own democratic rights. Co-op is breeding sentient beings into lives of torment, disease and despair. No more excuses – Co-op must sign the BCC and become the ethical retailer it claims to be.”
An estimated 51
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Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.