The Co-op has announced its commitment to only providing free-range eggs with the launch of a dedicated egg farming group.
Co-op’s egg farming group will "further strengthen relationships with farmers", the retailer said in a statement.
It will provide shoppers with a "transparent supply chain" and "maintain and develop strict animal welfare standards."
Since 2007 the Co-op has only sold free-range, own-brand eggs and since 2010 only free-range eggs have been used in its own-brand products.
Noble Foods, the Co-op’s main egg supplier has helped to establish the Farming Group, which is made up of more than 250,000 hens from 17 flocks from across northern England and Scotland.
The group will operate a bronze, silver and gold pillar scheme which will provide increased premiums for farms demonstrating various aspects of farm business management, such as quality, welfare or environmental factors.
The farms will be independently assessed to determine their pillar status.
'Openness and honesty'
Catherine Bennett, Co-op’s poultry agricultural manager, said: "Openness and honesty is at the heart of what we do and the egg farming group helps improve transparency and cements our commitment to British farming.
"The egg farming group represents the Co-op’s sixth farming group within our fresh, British meat, poultry and dairy ranges.
"They’re proving hugely successful in providing our customers and members with greater confidence in the provenance of our food as well as benefiting the farmers involved.”
Veli Moluluo, managing director of Noble Foods, commented: "The group represents a very positive step forward for consumers, suppliers and the poultry sector as a whole."
