Why does Nando’s only care about chickens in some countries?

Posted byMarianne Macdonald, Executive DirectorPosted inBlog, Caged hens, Chickens, Eggs, Food Business, Free-range
Image is split into two halves. On the left half it has a red background with the Nando’s chicken logo and text says, “New Zealand failing to help chickens.” Then the red background looks like it’s been peeled back to show a photo of a group of young chickens, with many patches that aren’t feathered, standing on a faeces-encrusted floor, some drinking from a red water dripper. On the right half it has a red background with the Nando’s chicken logo and text says “United Kingdom and Ireland signed The Better Chicken Commitment.” Then the red background looks like it’s been peeled back to show a photo of a group of young chickens standing next to or pecking at a bale of straw, on a floor with straw and shavings.
Image is split into two halves. On the left half it has a red background with the Nando’s chicken logo and text says, “New Zealand failing to help chickens.” Then the red background looks like it’s been peeled back to show a photo of a group of young chickens, with many patches that aren’t feathered, standing on a faeces-encrusted floor, some drinking from a red water dripper. On the right half it has a red background with the Nando’s chicken logo and text says “United Kingdom and Ireland signed The Better Chicken Commitment.” Then the red background looks like it’s been peeled back to show a photo of a group of young chickens standing next to or pecking at a bale of straw, on a floor with straw and shavings.
Image credits – Farmwatch (left) – RSPCA UK: RSPCA Assured (right)

Nando’s UK & Ireland committed to better chicken standards, but here in New Zealand, they are dragging their heels. We are asking, Why?

“we’re very proud to have signed up to the commitment to change all of our product over to a slower-growing breed by 2026.”

So said Nando’s UK & Ireland Product Director, Judith Irons, about her company having signed up to the higher welfare standards of the Better Chicken Commitment. Ms Irons went on to say that slower-growing breeds and lower stocking densities were the two measures that would improve welfare outcomes most, and that this healthier breed of chicken has “a better chance to develop its immune system, its gastrointestinal tract, bone development”. She said those words two years ago.

The question is, two years later, why has Nando’s failed to do the same in New Zealand?

They seem to think their customers in this country don’t care about the suffering of animals.

What about Nando’s egg suppliers?

Nando’s has made a global commitment to transition away from the cruelty of caging hens for eggs. They are committed to only using cage-free eggs in New Zealand by 2023. So it’s not as if Nando’s NZ doesn’t recognise that their customers want to see higher animal welfare standards.

What sort of chicken meat does Nando’s sell in NZ?

But what about chickens farmed for meat? Nando’s NZ website says “we only source local, free range chickens.”

Sadly, even the free-range label used by Nando’s condemns birds to an unnatural life of suffering. They are crammed into sheds in their tens of thousands. Their supplier, Tegel, uses abnormally fast-growing breeds that struggle to walk, many suffering from chronic pain and lameness. The combination of over-crowded sheds and the unnatural breeds, means that many never make it outside.

You can read more about the reality of free-range chickens – and it certainly goes with a large portion of suffering. The standards are far lower than that of the Better Chicken Commitment.

We’re asking Nando’s to do better.

Nando’s UK & Ireland has the goal to provide “fantastically tasting food without any of the guilt attached”. Surely Nando’s Kiwi customers and chickens deserve the same!

We’ve been asking Nando’s these questions and they have stayed silent. That’s why we are running our petition demanding Nando’s end their double-standard.

Sign the petition now

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