Elmwood Pork and Packington Poultry win Pig & Poultry Marketing 2011 Awards

NSF-CMi, sponsor of the Health and Welfare award, presented the Co-operative with the winners certificate for their Elmwood Higher Welfare standard for Pork. Robert McBride who collected the award said, The Co-operative has always believed that pigs, like other livestock, need to be reared in high welfare systems by farmers who understand the animals they care for. This is why we have been working with British pig farmers to rear pigs to our approved standards for nearly 25 years. Winning this award is the proof of the hard work we have put in and high standards we have achieved.

The Highly Commended category was won by Packington Poultry who were praised for their meticulous management of the poultry supply chain from feed specification through to meat distribution, thus ensuring the health and welfare of the poultry at every stage. Thanking the judges for his award, Alec Mercer, of the Mercer farming family and director of Packington Poultry commented, At Packington we all believe passionately in sustainable and ethical farming. We have focused totally on low density, environmentally sound and welfare orientated farming. We believe this is where the future of our business lies.

David Richardson, Managing Director of NSF-CMi Certification, who was the Health and Welfare category judge, said he was delighted with the high level of interest in higher welfare by British producers and the quality of the entries received. He said, NSF-CMi is sponsoring this award in recognition of the ever higher standards being achieved by British farmers who lead the world in animal welfare. It is our way of rewarding and encouraging the dedication of all UK pig and poultry producers.

The Pig and Poultry Marketing Awards 2011, organised by Pig & Poultry Marketing magazine, were held last week at the celebrated Roast restaurant where the guests enjoyed the finest British meat and seasonal produce.

About Elmwood Pork

All Co-operative fresh pork is born, reared and processed in the UK and is made using higher welfare Hampshire breed outdoor reared pork which is moist and full of flavour. The pigs are sired by a pure bred Hampshire boar and the outdoor rearing system ensures the pigs spend the first half of their life outdoors, they are then transferred to open, naturally lit barns with deep straw bedding. All farms selected for the standard have been inspected and approved by Freedom Foods, to the welfare standards laid down by the RSPCA.

Elmwood livestock live in a more natural and stimulating environment which allows them to thrive, play and rest, with lots of natural daylight and are allowed to grow at a more natural rate.

About Packington Poultry

Keeping flock numbers low and providing the highest of welfare standards means that Packington chickens are reared in a healthy and stress free environment. They are free to roam across 30 acres of traditional English pasture and woodland, giving the birds the chance to feed naturally from their surroundings. The chickens are fed the finest maize and omega3 enriched corn. This ensures the birds grow healthy and strong and will deliver a superb natural flavour.

Packington Poultry meets all of the high environmental and welfare standards that we expect today, while maintaining traditional values.

About NSF-CMi Certification

NSF-CMi Certification is the leading provider of independent assurance and certification services to the agriculture, produce and processing industries, delivering individual and combined assessments to a broad range of international, national and client specific standards. It is Europes largest certification provider in the food and farming sector, certifying over 60,000 clients.

NSF-CMi Certification is part of NSF-CMi, a leading international consulting, risk services, assurance and technical services provider in the global food supply chain.

NSF-CMi protects consumers and enhances business through the design, management and implementation of best practice consumer assurance solutions which also deliver commercial advantage to our business clients.