Intermarché has obtained Welfair animal-welfare certification for a free-range chicken SKU sold under its private-label brand PorSi in Portugal.
The product is part of the retailer's Origens Program, which aims to promote production in Portugal and currently supports 700 national producers to develop more than 300 local products.
The Welfair certification focuses on the direct observation and assessment of animals and their behaviour, the retailer noted.
It is based on 12 animal welfare benchmarks, including absence of prolonged hunger and thirst; comfortable resting and heating conditions; ease of movement; and absence of injuries, disease, pain induced by handling.
It also takes into account human-animal relationship, among others.
Animal-Welfare Certification
The audit process, described as 'complex' by Intermarché, covers the entire value chain from production to points of sale and guarantees product traceability.
This initiative aims to assess and control animal welfare standards on livestock farms and slaughter centres, making it possible to know and improve the condition of animals according to their needs.
The certification ensures that Intermarché is offering quality products and encouraging sustainable and environmentally friendly production.
Currently, the retailer offers 33 certified items.
Os Mosqueteiros, the Portuguese unit of French retailer Les Mousquetaires, posted a 9.6% increase in turnover, to €2.5 billion, in its financial year 2021.
The retailer operates the Intermarché, Bricomarché and Roady banners in the country.
In December of 2022, Portugal's parliament approved a 33% tax on the windfall profits that energy companies and food retailers may be bringing in with inflation at a near three-decade high.
© 2023 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest private-label news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
