Global animal welfare organization Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) has unveiled its latest European ChickenTrack report, providing a comprehensive evaluation of major food companies’ progress toward the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC).
The BCC, with over 410 companies signed on throughout Europe, represents the most significant coordinated effort to enhance welfare standards in broiler chicken production to date.
This year’s report tracks 107 influential signatories, whose supply chains collectively account for more than 794 million chickens annually. Among them, 76 reported their progress, reflecting a modest increase in the overall reporting rate from 69% to 71%. CIWF has added 19 new brands to the 2025 assessment, with 16 of these already providing reports.
Key Improvements: A Successful Year for Waitrose
The findings for 2025 confirm notable progress across various BCC criteria, with the most substantial gains in areas such as natural light provision, environmental enrichment, and controlled atmosphere stunning (CAS).
A standout achievement this year was recorded by UK-based Waitrose, which made an impressive transition in breed compliance, jumping from 14% to a full 100% in just one year. This remarkable feat aligns them with REMA 1000 Norge AS as both have met BCC standards ahead of the 2026 deadline, joining Norsk Kylling, who achieved complete compliance in 2022.
CIWF estimates that industry advancements have led to on-farm welfare improvements for an estimated 163 million chickens in the past year.
Leading Brands Making Strides
Several brands have emerged as leaders, showcasing substantial, well-rounded progress. Companies like Cortilia, Eataly Italy, Groupe Casino, Big Mamma France, and Premier Foods now boast over 50% fulfillment of vital on-farm criteria, including breed type, stocking density, and natural light. Notably, Big Mamma France only lacks in third-party auditing compliance.
HelloFresh stands out as the sole company to document at least a 10 percentage point increase across every criterion compared to the previous year.
Ongoing Challenges in Breed Transition
Despite promising indicators, breed transition remains the most significant hurdle. Among the reporting firms, 36 still report less than 10% progression in adopting slower-growing breeding systems, with 17 companies, including major players such as Compass Group, Burger King, Papa Johns, and KFC UK & Ireland, reporting a dismal 0% adoption rate.
Positive changes, however, are emerging as 16 companies have now exceeded 30% adoption of slower-growing breeds, with 9 achieving over the 50% threshold—an increase from just 3 last year. Eataly Italy has reached an impressive 90%, and both Les 3 Brasseurs and Fileni have made notable advancements.
Improvements in Stocking Density, Particularly in the UK
Stocking density remains another ongoing challenge, yet 8 companies—including Greggs, Marks & Spencer, Big Mamma France, and Pret—have achieved full compliance. The largest growth in this category was observed in M&S and Greggs, both reaching 100% from previous rates of 31% and 65% respectively.
In the UK, stocking density improvements have been marked, increasing from an average of 38% in 2024 to 68% in 2025. Following Sainsbury’s 2023 decision to enforce a maximum stocking density of 30kg/m², 7 additional UK supermarkets have adopted similar standards, resulting in 8 out of 12 major retailers applying this standard to all fresh chicken sold.
Concerns About Withdrawal from Commitments
The report highlights troubling trends, particularly the number of companies failing to report any progress—31 out of the 107 assessed. In the UK, notable non-reporters include Chipotle Mexican Grill, Subway, and TGI Fridays.
Even more concerning, 18 UK brands, such as Burger King, Nando’s, Bella Italia, Wagamama, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and KFC, have opted out of their BCC commitments altogether. Many cite breed transition challenges as the reason for this withdrawal, but CIWF cautions that without a shift toward slower-growing breeds, other welfare enhancements cannot reach their full potential.
CIWF insists that all BCC signatories must publish clear transition roadmaps, supported by detailed action plans. This year, 8 additional companies have complied, bringing the total to 12.
“A Cause for Celebration, but Acceleration is Necessary”
Commenting on the report’s findings, Dr. Tracey Jones, CIWF’s global director of Food Business, acknowledged the progress achieved by leading retailers while emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced momentum in breed transitions.
She warned that UK hospitality companies stepping back could significantly impede progress at a critical time when consumers, farmers, and retailers are increasingly unified in their support for higher-welfare chicken. “Companies must stay the course,” she asserted.
