This image was taken on a free-range farm in NZ, the exact same standards that Nando’s and Pita Pit wouldn’t use in other countries, but think it’s okay here in New Zealand…
Sign the petition now.
To Amanda Banfield (CEO Nando’s ANZ) and Duane Dalton (CEO Pita Pit NZ).
Take urgent action to stop the needless suffering of the chickens you use in your meals, by signing the Better Chicken Commitment.
Nando’s and Pita Pit are selling suffering. These companies are responsible for millions of chickens living in chronic pain, all because these birds have been bred to grow faster than nature intended.
Fast food shouldn’t mean abnormally fast-growing chickens. Nando’s and Pita Pit know this – that’s why they changed their standards overseas. Do they think Kiwis don’t care about animal welfare?
People expect better from companies that claim to care.
End the double-standards. Tell Nando’s and Pita Pit that you want better chicken, naturally. Sign the petition.
The chickens raised commercially for Nando’s and Pita Pit suffer appallingly.
Shockingly, these chickens have been selectively bred to grow unnaturally fast, reaching a size larger than a natural adult chicken in just six weeks.
Because of their abnormally fast-growth, these birds face many avoidable health problems such as heart disease and lameness. Some can’t lift their bodies up off the floor to reach food or water. Others struggle to breathe or suffer organ failure within weeks of being hatched.
Even the free-range label used by Nando’s and Pita Pit, condemns birds to an unnatural life of suffering. They are crammed into sheds in their tens of thousands and while abnormal breeds that struggle to walk are used, many will never even make it outside.
The litter on the floor of the shed is never changed in their lives, forcing them to live in their own excrement. Ammonia fills the air and with legs that struggle to hold their weight, they often suffer from burns to their skin from the excrement left on the ground.
Animal welfare doesn’t have borders. Nando’s and Pita Pit are transitioning away from using unnatural breeds in the UK, Ireland, the US and Canada. But in Aotearoa, they are lagging behind because they think most New Zealanders don’t know or care about the breed of chicken they’re being sold.
It’s time for these fast-food brands to ditch the double-standards to deliver better.
Frequently asked questions
Are the standards from the images and footage used in this campaign representative of the farms that supply Nando’s and Pita Pit?
Nando’s and Pita Pit state publicly that they use free-range, New Zealand chicken. The images and footage used in this campaign were taken on New Zealand free-range farms that are representative of New Zealand industry free-range standards. They, therefore, reflect the conditions on the chicken farms that supply Nando’s and Pita Pit.
For more on chicken meat labels, download our free guide.
Why are we focussing on Nando’s and Pita Pit?
Before launching the campaign we were in contact with both Nando’s and Pita Pit for over nine months, educating them about the immense suffering in their chicken supply chains and asking them to do the right thing by committing to higher welfare standards.
They have the power to demand change from chicken corporations who are farming abnormally fast-growing breeds, birds who have suffering coded in their DNA.
Both these fast-food chains advertise that they use free-range chicken. Pita Pit goes further saying, “Pita Pit supports ethical and sustainable farming practices.” Like you, Animals Aotearoa expects a local brand, priding themselves on locally sourced “ethical” chicken meat, to be a leader when it comes to animal welfare. It’s time for them to prove it.
How much will it cost Nando’s and Pita Pit to sign the Better Chicken Commitment?
There is no upfront cost to sign the Better Chicken Commitment. Shifting their supply to healthier chicken breeds will take time. This is why companies like Domino’s, My Food Bag and HelloFresh have committed to changing by 2026. Good animal welfare does cost more, and Nando’s and Pita Pit will need to rise to meet that challenge if they want to uphold their values of ethical and sustainable farming, and do the right thing for chickens.
Which animal organisations support the Better Chicken Commitment?
The Better Chicken Commitment was adapted for the Australia-New Zealand region and is supported by:
- Anima International
- Animal Equality
- Animals Aotearoa
- Animals Australia
- Australian Alliance for Animals
- Compassion in World Farming
- Eurogroup for Animals
- FOUR PAWS Australia
- Humane Society International Australia
- Mercy For Animals
- Sinergia Animal
- Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) New Zealand
- The Humane League
- Veterinarians for Animal Welfare Aotearoa
- World Animal Protection
Are there other fast-food chains that have already signed the Better Chicken Commitment?
There are 68 commitments to the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) overseas by fast-food chains. This includes Nando’s in the UK and Ireland, and Pita Pit in the US and Canada. Back in 2020, Domino’s committed to the BCC in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, and in 2021 Domino’s committed in Australia and New Zealand.
What does the Better Chicken Commitment mean for chicken welfare?
The Better Chicken Commitment is a set of science-based standards that give chickens a higher quality of life. It means phasing out chicken breeds that grow so abnormally fast, they reach the size of an adult bird in less than six weeks. It also means more space, enrichments within the sheds such as objects to peck at and perches to rest off the ground, and less pain and stress at slaughter. You can learn more about the Better Chicken Commitment.
Got another question about the campaign, or about chickens in general? Feel free to send us an email or message us on Facebook.
The food business logos are used for commentary purposes and Animals Aotearoa is not affiliated with the organisations. This petition is intended to highlight the double-standards of these companies for signing the Better Chicken Commitment in other countries but not in New Zealand.
Images and footage used in this campaign are from free-range farms in New Zealand where chickens are reared for meat. The conditions reflected represent farms that meet the Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand’s free-range standards.