Whole Foods Market Receives Global Accolades for Animal Welfare Efforts
June 10 2015 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Compassion in World Farming Honors Whole Foods Market®
with two Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards
Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM) has been recognized with a Good
Sow Commendation and a Global Good Egg Award from Compassion in
World Farming, for the company’s animal welfare practices.
“Whole Foods Market is proud to receive these awards in
recognition of our commitment to improving farm animal welfare. We
require all shell eggs sold in our stores and all eggs used in our
kitchens and bakeries to be cage-free. And through our adoption of
the 5-Step™ Animal Welfare Rating Program, the lives of sows
associated with our fresh meat program have been greatly improved,"
said Margaret Wittenberg, global vice president of Quality
Standards at Whole Foods Market. "We are able to contribute to a
significant and positive impact on animal agriculture thanks to the
partnerships we have with our producers, who put equally strong
emphasis on the lives and welfare of their farm animals as they do
on ensuring high-quality products."
The Good Sow Commendation recognizes companies that use or are
committed to using higher welfare systems for sows. Specifically,
the award’s criteria require that animals have no confinement (sow
stalls and farrowing crates), and that adequate bedding material is
provided throughout life. The Good Egg Award recognizes companies
that use or are committed to using cage-free eggs or egg
products.
Since 2004, all of the fresh eggs sold in Whole Foods Market’s
dairy cases, and since 2005, all eggs used in its kitchens,
bakeries and commissaries have come from suppliers that follow
cage-free production methods. Additionally, all fresh pork sold at
Whole Foods Market comes from farms that have achieved
certification to Global Animal Partnership’s 5-Step Animal Welfare
program, which outlines and requires more than 100 species-specific
husbandry and management practices that promote farm animal
welfare.
Compassion in World Farming uses its Good Farm Animal Welfare
Awards to recognize market-leading companies for their current
policies or commitments, which result in positive impacts on farm
animal welfare across their supply chains. Whole Foods Market
accepted the award at the Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards ceremony
in Milan, Italy, on Tuesday, June 9.
About Whole Foods Market®
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market
(wholefoodsmarket.com, NASDAQ: WFM), is the leading natural and
organic food retailer. As America’s first national certified
organic grocer, Whole Foods Market was named “America’s Healthiest
Grocery Store” by Health magazine. The company's motto, “Whole
Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures its mission to ensure
customer satisfaction and health, Team Member excellence and
happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and
environmental improvement. Thanks to the company’s more than
88,000 team members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of
the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine
for 18 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2014, the company had
sales of more than $14 billion and currently has more than 420
stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. For
more company news and information, please visit media.wfm.com.
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Whole Foods MarketBlaire Kniffin,
512-542-3483blaire.kniffin@wholefoods.com
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