Foodbuy helps its clients face challenges across the meat category

With 28% of consumers having cut back on their meat consumption over the last six years, there is a real challenge to the meat category. Red meat (pork, beef, veal and lamb) is being mostly acutely impacted as there are several trends at play. 

Some of these trends are associated with health reasons whilst others are around concerns for animal welfare and/or the climate. Importantly, consumers are generally becoming much more aware of the ethics of meat production and its transparency. 

Traceability, food safety and animal welfare have become increasingly important and all food producers are expected to deliver on these to create consumer confidence. And therein lies the opportunity for the meat category. 

The trend towards more natural, nutritious and real food is growing, as is the acceptance of the natural fat content in meat as providing both tenderness and taste.

There are also good opportunities for creating more differentiated animal welfare concepts for increasingly aware consumers.

This is exactly where Foodbuy can support you. As well as providing great prices and value, fundamental to our work is our Supply Chain Integrity Policy. 

The scale of our business and our global supply chain means we are committed to maintaining a strong agenda on sourcing responsibly. We measure the success of our business not just in financial terms but also in terms of environmental and social goals; all elements add to the value of our business, our suppliers and employees – and, of course add value for our Foodbuy clients.

Foodbuy recognises and understands concerns about the welfare of animals in our global supply chain. As a minimum, products derived from animals must comply with all applicable legislation relating to animal welfare in the country of production.

In addition, Foodbuy endorses the Farm Animal Welfare Committee’s (FAWC) Five Freedoms for animal welfare which are:

1. Freedom from hunger and thirst, by ready access to water and a diet to maintain health and vigour.
2. Freedom from discomfort, by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area
3. Freedom from pain, injury or disease, by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
4. Freedom to express normal behaviour, by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.
5. Freedom from fear and distress, by ensuring conditions and treatment, which avoid mental suffering.

To facilitate compliance to this within our global supply chain, our expectations and requirements are explained both in our Supplier Code and local Sourcing Standards. 

Our teams are trained in these principles and support our suppliers to manage these requirements back in their supply chains to farm level.

As part of our commitment to improving animal welfare throughout our global supply chain, we are collaborating with partners such as Compassion in World Farming, Humane Society International and The Humane League to establish a framework against which we can continually improve our approach to animal welfare. 

Our commitment to responsible sourcing, absolute traceability and transparency throughout our supply chain means that Foodbuy allows its clients to purchase with absolute confidence, and in turn, meet the demands of their customers for high quality meat products and differentiated animal welfare concepts. 

Contact us here to talk about Foodbuy’s approach to Supply Chain Integrity and how it can support you in achieving the goals of your business.