Retailer sourcing policies define the standards for meat and dairy production in the mainstream food supply. Due to their volume of sales, retailers have the ability to mainstream ‘better’ meat and dairy both within and beyond their sector.
Retailers can influence demand for better livestock products and plant-based ingredients through buying practices, such as supplier requirements. Retailers can work with their suppliers to encourage more plant production, and production of better meat and dairy. Where supply is not available or sufficient, new partnerships and collaborations with producers or manufacturers should be formed.
Sourcing better in retail means:
- Transition meat and dairy sourcing to products certified by schemes such as Organic, Pasture for Life, RSPCA Assured, and RSPB Fair to Nature. Ensure these are not limited to premium products but are available at every price point.
- The business should set a strategy for engaging with suppliers and farmers to ensure ‘better’ meat and dairy is available in the quantities needed to make the transition, while investing in the supply chain for better meat and dairy products for long term viability.
- Require suppliers to provide livestock products from animals that have eaten feed from sustainable sources, reduce the amount of cereal and soy fed to animals. Retailers should prioritise meat production from animals fed local feed, including from mixed farms.
- Take steps to source from a more diverse range of breeds.
- Commit to only source meat, dairy and eggs from producers and suppliers who:
- do not use antibiotics for preventative group treatments
- do not use antibiotics for routine disease prevention
- restrict the use of the ‘critically important antibiotics’ (modern cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones) and never use the last-resort antibiotic colistin.
- Define minimum quality standards that deliver good animal welfare and engage with suppliers to raise standards and improve animal welfare through their supply chain. Switch to livestock products that hold credible independent animal welfare certifications.
- Put sustainability at the heart of all sourcing: focus on seasonal fruits and vegetables, and take steps to source imported products such as nuts, tropical fruits, cocoa and fish from verifiably sustainable sources.
