Matthew Chalmers
Co-op members took to the stage at this weekend's AGM to demand change from Co-op.
Co-op’s annual general meeting (AGM) at Manchester’s Co-op Live has been disrupted by its own members with activists dragged from the stage for arguing that the self-described ‘ethical retailer’ is profiting from animal cruelty.
Co-op is undermining member democracy by continuing to sell fast-growing 'Frankenchickens' - who often suffer from extremely painful health problems - even after its membership voted against this last year.
The activists unfurled banners as they took to the stage, before security dragged them away. The internal disruption was paired with a large protest outside, demanding better treatment for chickens.
I feel incredibly proud of the brave team who took over the stage and raised our voices to challenge the Co-op to do better by animals. Most encouraging was the thunderous applause of hundreds of Co-op members showing their support as we were led out.
~ Sean Gifford, Managing Director at The Humane League UK and lead protester
Last year, Co-op announced that all animals raised for their fresh chicken range will now have 20% more space, under new ‘space to thrive’ branding. While we welcome this change, it’s not enough. The Co-op is only fulfilling an old promise that they previously abandoned.
Changing the breed is essential for the welfare of these birds. If the Co-op signs up to the full Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), a set of six criteria to ensure better welfare for chickens (including breed), Co-op will become the third UK supermarket to make the pledge, after Waitrose and M&S.
Frankenchickens can’t thrive when suffering is hardwired into their DNA, it’s that simple [...] refusing to stop using Frankenchickens puts you behind KFC, Nando's, Burger King, Gregg's and hundreds of other companies [...] And by not addressing this, that makes you an animal welfare laggard Co-op; not an animal welfare leader.
~ Naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham in a video for The Humane League UK
Tens of millions of birds supplied to Co-op each year would benefit if they implemented the BCC. 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.
That’s why we will keep on fighting until the Co-op has done right by millions of animals and thousands of Co-op members. With your support, the use and abuse of Frankenchickens will one day end.
If you’d like to join the campaign, sign up to receive our emails and you’ll get quick, simple actions to make a difference for animals right into your inbox.
