Aldi Suisse has launched an organic project for grazing beef cattle, 'Aldi Bio Weide Rind', which is says is a first for the retail sector in Switzerland.
Work on the project started about two years ago as a result of collaboration with the Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau (Research Institute for Organic Farming, or FiBL.
The project aims to go one step further than common organic farming standards by guaranteeing that male dairy calves can also be raised on the farm where they were born, while also meeting strictest standards in terms of both animal welfare and sustainability.
All calves remain for an initial period of at least 150 days on the farm of their birth, where they are fed by their mothers. In this way, the young calves do not undergo any transfers while their immune system is not yet fully developed (up to four weeks), reducing the need for antibiotics.
Packaging Reduction
In addition, products bearing the Aldi Bio Weide Rind branding uses flatskin packaging, which reduces the plastic used therein by 70%.
Several products have already gone on sale at Aldi stores across Switzerland.
Although 70 suppliers are currently taking part in the project, this is not enough to supply all Aldi Suisse supermarkets with enough products, and the retailer is actively ely seeking additional farms to participate in the Aldi Bio Weide Rind project.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
