Aramark Becomes First Major Food Service Company to Ask Suppliers to Commit to Humane Conditions for Broiler Chickens by 2024

PHILADELPHIA, PA (November 3, 2016) – Aramark announced the following today with the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) and Compassion in World Farming (CIWF):

“A cornerstone of our corporate responsibility platform is a longstanding commitment to sustainable sourcing with a priority on the wellbeing of animals raised by our independent suppliers,” said Scott Barnhart, Aramark’s Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain and Procurement. “That commitment is constantly evolving and serves as the foundation for what we expect from our suppliers.”

Aramark’s industry-leading animal welfare policy, instituted in 2015, requires its suppliers to provide an environment consistent with the “Five Freedoms” of animal welfare developed by the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC). The company’s policy covers the care and treatment of farm animals, including rapid growth, confinement and painful procedures.

Aramark is the first major food service company to call on its suppliers to implement additional humane conditions for the treatment of broiler chickens. This includes asking its suppliers to take the following actions by 2024, or sooner if possible:

• Transitioning to strains of birds that measurably improve welfare issues associated with fast growth rates per Global Animal Partnership’s (GAP) standards. 
• Reducing maximum stocking density to equal to/less than 6 lbs./sq. ft. per GAP standards.
• Providing chickens with enriched environments including natural light, hay bales and perches that meet GAP standards.
• Evaluating with animal welfare organizations over the next year issues related to litter quality, lighting, air quality, and other environmental conditions. 
• Rendering chickens unconscious prior to shackling using Controlled or Low Atmosphere Stunning. 

"Aramark’s announcement is a transformational shift for the treatment of chickens in its supply chain. We’re very pleased to work with Aramark to help create this important commitment, which demonstrates yet again how seriously the company takes animal welfare,” said Josh Balk, Vice President of Farm Animal Protection, Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

“We heartily applaud Aramark’s commitment and look forward to continuing to partner with them as they transition over the next eight years. This decision will help catalyze enormous change, not only for the chickens in their supply chain, but also for the nearly 9 billion chickens that are farmed each year in the U.S.,” said Rachel Dreskin, U.S. Head of Food Business, Compassion in World Farming (CIWF). 

“As a global leader in farm animal welfare, GAP is proud to see a company like Aramark move towards changes that could benefit thousands of animals every year,” said Anne Malleau, executive director of Global Animal Partnership. “Aramark knows that consumers increasingly demand that farm animals are raised with a higher quality of life. They’re looking for transparency and certification they can trust.”

Aramark also supports the formation of an animal welfare roundtable engaging foodservice/ restaurant companies and suppliers with animal welfare, health, environmental and agricultural organizations to address a groundbreaking shift in animal welfare.

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About Aramark
Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the world’s leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world with food, facilities, and uniform services. Because our culture is rooted in service, our employees strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. Aramark has been named to DiversityInc’s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” list, the Forbes list of “America’s Best Employers for Diversity,” the HRC’s “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality” and scored 100% on the Disability Equality Index. Learn more at www.aramark.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.