Today (12 March), we released our latest ChickenTrack report, which assesses how food companies are progressing toward the higher-welfare requirements set out in the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC).

Accelerating industry progress

ChickenTrack is designed to accelerate industry change by promoting transparency, driving accountability, and supporting businesses as they transition to higher‑welfare chicken across their supply chains.

The BCC is a science‑led framework created to improve the lives of millions of broiler chickens each year. It sets clear, measurable criteria which include:

A shift to slower‑growing breeds with better welfare outcomes.
Providing the chickens with more space to reduce overcrowding.
Environmental enrichment and natural light to encourage natural behaviours.
More humane stunning methods.
Compliance with third-party animal welfare certification and annual progress reporting.

Key findings

This year’s report shows progress has increased across all criteria, though the biggest challenges remain slower‑growing breeds and stocking density. Key findings include:

163 million chickens are benefitting from the on-farm welfare improvements, reflecting significant progress from several major companies this year.
76 out of 107 companies reported on their progress – an increase from 64 out of 93 in last year’s report.
In the UK, Waitrose has achieved full BCC compliance ahead of the 2026 deadline.
However, 31 companies, including Chipotle Mexican Grill, Subway and TGI Fridays failed to report this year, underscoring a continued transparency gap.
Encouragingly, eight more companies have now published BCC roadmaps – an essential step in demonstrating credible commitment and accountability.

Companies must stay the course

Tracey Jones, our Global Director of Food Business, commented on the findings:

There is genuine cause for celebration this year, with retailers such as Waitrose and REMA 1000 achieving 100% BCC compliance and clear progress being made across all criteria.

However, overall momentum remains slow, particularly on breed change, despite it being a cornerstone of higher-welfare chicken production. Over the past two years, UK retailers have played a pivotal role in driving progress on stocking density. Their continued influence and ambition will be equally crucial in accelerating progress on breed transition in the years ahead. Only when all BCC criteria are fully implemented will chickens experience genuinely better lives they deserve.

Companies must stay the course, act decisively, and ensure that animal welfare sits at the heart of every supply chain decision. We applaud those companies leading the way and continuing their progress towards better chicken.

ChickenTrack 2025: Progress made, but industry action must accelerate