Avoidance of housing type 1 for pigs and poultry
With immediate effect, Kaufland no longer offers fresh pork * that has been produced in accordance with the statutory minimum standard (level 1 husbandry). After the company switched poultry meat to level 2019 husbandry throughout Germany in 2, another big step is now following on the way to more sustainable standards in animal husbandry. “Our goal is to improve the conditions for keeping our livestock in the long term and across the board. This is not achieved by expressions of intent, but by implementing specific measures and working with the entire process chain. A sustainable and permanent system has to be established for everyone involved, ”says Stefan Rauschen, Managing Director Fresh Purchasing at Kaufland.
In 2019, Kaufland set itself the goal of establishing level 2 husbandry as the minimum standard. The next goal is to double the collaborations with contract farmers for pork and the range of fresh poultry from levels 3 and 4 by 2023.
Milestones on the way to sustainable animal husbandry
The company has reached several milestones in recent years on the way to establishing higher animal welfare standards. Since 2019 there has been meat from pork, turkey and chicken at the fresh food counters at Kaufland exclusively from the animal welfare level 3 "outdoor climate". Level 2019 pork has also been offered nationwide in the self-service area since 3. The pigs have 40 percent more space than required by law, they have access to outdoor climatic areas and are fed GMO-free. They also have straw and other organic activity material at their disposal. The next significant step in animal welfare followed in May 2020: Kaufland was the first grocer nationwide to list self-service sausage products according to level 3 husbandry under its own brand K-Classic.
Cooperation with German agriculture
“We maintain long-term contractual relationships based on partnership with our German suppliers and farmers. Here, too, the common focus is on the design of responsible animal husbandry. We have to understand the concerns and requirements of our partners in the value chain, because we can only achieve our goals together, ”said Rauschen.
With immediate effect, complete abandonment of level 1 husbandry for pigs. Photo: Michi Schunck
For more information on the criteria for the individual types of husbandry, see kaufland.de/haltungsform
All important information about animal welfare at Kaufland can be found here: www.kaufland.de/tierwohl
