Jul 21 2010 by ATAAC
Coles meat general manager Allister Watson said in a statement producers would start supplying sow stall free pork to the Coles Butcher range from 2011, which will be completely sow stall free by the end of 2014.
Coles Butcher is the chain's basic home-brand meat range.
Coles currently offered sow stall free pork in the Otway, Linley Valley, and KR-branded Outdoor Reared ranges, the chain's statement said.
"Our customers are becoming increasingly interested in welfare issues surrounding pig farming, with the use of sow stalls their greatest concern," Mr Watson said.
"For a number of months now, Coles has been working on plans with our pork producers to phase out sow stalls.
"We are working with our growers to ensure they avoid onerous costs in changing how they raise pigs.
"Changes will therefore take time to complete, but Coles and its suppliers are stepping heavily in the right direction.”
"As a result of these discussions, we’ve been able to develop a pork welfare model that will be better for our customers, better for our growers, and most importantly, better for pigs."
Coles Finest free range pork was to be made available in 60 Coles Supermarkets in ACT, NSW and Victoria from today, the chain's statement said.
The range would be expanded to other stores as additional supplies of free range pork became available. "
