Columbus Coffee has committed to raising its chicken welfare standards after signing the Australia-New Zealand Better Chicken Commitment, which will be implemented across the chain's 75 property portfolio. The Columbus brand has been joined by eight Mexico restaurants, owned by parent company Cafe Brands. Columbus Coffe is the largest dedicated coffee chain in the country.
Led by Animals Aotearoa, Better Chicken Commitment is a global initiative that has set out strict, science-based welfare requirements for chickens bred for meat. The standards in the initiative exceed those currently enforced by the New Zealand Government.
Chief operating officer of Cafe Brands, Jon Hassall, said that the company’s franchisees within the Columbus Coffee and Mexico restaurant brands have established strong connections with local communities all over the country, and have shared the appreciation for the importance of ethical business practices.
“By integrating these standards into our operations and throughout our franchise network, we are not only addressing the evolving expectations from our customers but also taking steps towards a more humane and sustainable food production industry, which we as consumers all benefit from,” said Hassall.
Hassall added that embracing the Better Chicken Commitment was something that the company felt was needed locally and nationally.
The report has ranked the two largest coffee chains in New Zealand, Columbus Coffee and the Coffee Club, as leaders of the commitment, with similar brands such as Robert Harris Coffee Culture rated positively.
Starbucks has signed the commitment overseas, but not its New Zealand locations. The report has outlined the inaction of several companies is an endorsement of poof chicken welfare.
New Zealand farming practices need to catch up to foreign markets, where the Better Chicken Commitment standards are already established. The commitment is already backed by 15 major organisations within Australia and New Zealand, including the New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Veterinarians for Animal Welfare, Compassion in World Farming and World Animal Protection.
Animals Aotearoa executive director, Marianne Macdonald, said that some brands need to stop dragging the chain and act in line with the commitment.
A recent Horizon poll found that 90 percent of people think it is important to protect the welfare of farmed animals in New Zealand.
