What is special about Waitrose pork?
All our pork is reared naturally, by a small group of British farmers who we know personally. Most of them are in East Anglia, an area renowned for good pork, thanks to the light, free-draining soil which provides ideal conditions for pigs. The result is tender, fine-grained meat, with just the right amount of fat and plenty of flavour. It is hand-cut by skilled butchers, using traditional methods. All our pork can be traced back to a group of farmers where it was raised.
British Pork
Sold pre-packed, our British pork comes from pigs that are born outside, and reared in light airy barns, with straw to sleep on, and room to express their natural behaviour.
Frequently asked questions - Waitrose British Pork
What is different about Waitrose Pork?
Waitrose pigs come from a dedicated group of farmers based in East Anglia and Southern England. The farms are specifically producing for Waitrose and work within producer groups to ensure standards of welfare and husbandry. A specific boar line is used which has been chosen for its traits which include hardiness, vigour and excellent eating quality.
How is Waitrose British pork reared?
The piglets are born outdoors to a specially bred sow that was bred for outdoor production. All the breeding sows are free range, they live outdoors with access to straw filled arcs on free draining sandy soil. At farrowing the sows are given their own specific hut for raising their litter until weaning at 4 weeks of age. At weaning the growing pigs are transferred to light airy straw bedded barns with natural lighting.
What does Outdoor Bred mean?
Outdoor Bred means the piglets remain outside with their mother until 4 weeks of age, when they are then transferred indoors into straw bedded barns with natural lighting and an airy environment.
What Does Free range mean?
Both the mother (sow) and piglet both spend their entire life outdoors, with access to shelter in straw filled arcs for farrowing. The pigs are allowed to roam freely in open fields to root and have access to food and water at all times.
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British Free Range Hampshire
Our British Free Range Hampshire pork comes from pigs that are sired by Hampshire boars, this traditional breed is renowned for its tender, succulent meat. The sows are specially selected to thrive in an outdoor environment, a lifestyle which Waitrose has chosen for its Breeding Pigs. These sows are crossed with the Hampshire boar to produce this excellent quality pork.
This range of pork comes from a small group of farmers, where the pigs roam freely in open fields, with access to huts with straw bedding, for shelter in winter and shade in summer. All Waitrose Free Range Hampshire sired pork is processed separately from conventionally-reared pigs. This range is sold predominantly on the Service Meat Counter, it also appears in top tier Easy to Cook and Pork ranges.
Frequently asked questions - Free Range Hampshire
Why is Waitrose promoting the Free Range Hampshire breed?
Waitrose has specially selected the Hampshire pig for its hardiness and vigour for growth in the outdoor environment and for its superb eating quality. Also by promoting Hampshire sired pork, Waitrose is supporting and therefore helping to progress and maintain a traditional English breed of pig.
How is Free Range Hampshire pork reared?
Hampshire sired pigs are born and reared slowly in large outdoor paddocks. They sleep in shelters filled with ample straw and have access to food and water at all times. Their health and welfare is monitored to the same exacting standards expected for all Waitrose pigs.
Why is free range important?
This means that Hampshire sired pigs are born outdoors and spend their entire life outdoors; giving them freedom to roam and express natural rooting behavior. Because roaming, rooting and eating are all in a days work for a contented pig, we believe the Hampshire sired pork will taste better by providing this specific environment.
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British Free Range Organic Pork
Sold pre-packed, our organic pork comes from a small group of farms in East Anglia and South West England, where the pigs are fed an organic diet and allowed to roam freely. The farms are regularly monitored by Organic Farmers and Growers and the Soil Association, and the meat is processed separately from conventionally reared pigs.
Frequently asked questions - Free Range Organic Pork
How is Free Range Organic pork reared?
Free Range Organic pigs are born and reared slowly in large organic outdoor paddocks. They sleep in shelters filled with ample straw and have access to food and water at all times. At farrowing the sows are given their own specific hut for raising the litter until weaning at 7 weeks of age, which is significantly older than conventional systems. Their health and welfare is monitored to the same exacting standards expected for all Waitrose pigs.
What makes organic Organic?
Waitrose organic pigs come from a limited number of specialist organic farms. All the farms have to be registered with an organic accreditation body such as the Soil Association, Organic Farmers and Growers, Organic Food Federation as well as Assured British Pigs and Freedom Foods. The growing pigs having been born outdoors are raised outdoors in paddocks having access to freely roam the organic land. The pigs are fed an organic cereal based diet which is specially formulated to help them thrive in an outdoor environment.
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British Free Range Gloucestershire Old Spot
Our British Free Range Gloucestershire Old Spot pork comes from pigs that are sired by pedigree Gloucestershire Old Spot , this traditional breed is renowned for its tender, succulent meat. The sows are specially selected to thrive in an outdoor environment, a lifestyle which Waitrose has chosen for its Breeding Pigs. These sows are crossed with the Gloucestershire Old Spot boar to produce this excellent quality pork.
This range of pork comes from one specialist free range farm based in Wiltshire, where they roam freely in open fields, with access to huts with straw bedding, for shelter in winter and shade in summer. All Waitrose Free Range Gloucestershire Old Spot pork is processed separately from conventionally-reared pigs. Products available using Gloucestershire Old Spot pork are sausages on the Service Meat Counter, ham on the deli counter and pre packed bacon. Not all products are available in all stores.
Frequently asked questions - Gloucestershire Old Spot Breed
Our British Free Range Gloucestershire Old Spot pork comes from pigs that are sired by Gloucestershire Old Spot , this traditional breed is renowned for its tender, succulent meat. The sows are specially selected to thrive in an outdoor environment, a lifestyle which Waitrose has chosen for its Breeding Pigs. These sows are crossed with the Gloucestershire Old Spot boar to produce this excellent quality pork.
Why is Waitrose promoting the Gloucestershire Old Spot breed?
Waitrose has specially selected the Gloucestershire Old Spot pig for its flavour, succulence and tenderness. The unique taste of Gloucestershire Old Spot pork is recognized and revered throughout the UK. Also by promoting Gloucestershire Old Spot sired pork, Waitrose is supporting and therefore helping to progress and maintain this rare English breed of pig. It is only by eating Gloucestershire Old Spot produce can we increase numbers of animals and therefore ensure the breed survival.
How is Gloucestershire Old Spot sired pork reared?
Gloucestershire Old Spot sired pigs are born and reared slowly in large outdoor paddocks. They sleep in shelters filled with ample straw and have access to food and water at all times. Their health and welfare is monitored to the same exacting standards expected for all Waitrose pigs.
Why is free range important?
This means that Gloucestershire Old Spot sired pigs are born outdoors and spend their entire life outdoors; giving them freedom to roam and express natural rooting behavior. Because roaming, rooting and eating are all in a days work for a contented pig, we believe the Gloucestershire Old Spot sired pork will taste better by providing this specific environment.
What are the benefits of Gloucestershire Old Spot pork?
The Gloucestershire Old Spot breed attributes include superior meat quality due to the pork being well marbled, this means the pork is highly palatable and sweet tasting.
How is Gloucestershire Old Spot sired pork different?
Gloucestershire Old Spot sired pork is different to the Waitrose standard pork as it delivers a more traditional taste experience. The marbling ensures the meat is tender, succulent and full of flavour. The increased fat levels could dissuade some customers; however this is just a renowned characteristic of a traditional breed which gives the Gloucestershire Old Spot meat its superior eating quality.
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British Free Range Berkshire
Our British Free Range Berkshire pork is produced from pigs sired by Berkshire boars, which are a traditional breed, renowned for their hardiness and vigour for growth in the outdoor environment and for the superb eating quality of the pork. This range of pork comes from one specialist farm in Suffolk, where they roam freely in open fields, with access to huts with straw bedding, for shelter in winter and shade in summer. All Waitrose Free Range Berkshire pork is processed separately from conventionally-reared pigs. This range is sold on the Service Meat Counter in selected stores.
Frequently asked questions - Free Range Berkshire
Our British Free Range Berkshire pork comes from pigs that are sired by Berkshire boars, this traditional breed is renowned for its tender, succulent meat. The sows are specially selected to thrive in an outdoor environment, a lifestyle which Waitrose has chosen for its Breeding Pigs. These sows are crossed with the Berkshire boar to produce this excellent quality pork.
Why is Waitrose promoting the Free Range Berkshire breed?
Waitrose has specially selected the Berkshire pig for its hardiness and vigor for growth in the outdoor environment and for its superb eating quality. Also by promoting Berkshire sired pork, Waitrose is supporting and therefore helping to progress and maintain a traditional English breed of pig.
How is Free Range Berkshire sired pork reared?
Berkshire sired pigs are born and reared slowly in large outdoor paddocks. They sleep in shelters filled with ample straw and have access to food and water at all times. Their health and welfare is monitored to the same exacting standards expected for all Waitrose pigs.
Why is free range important?
This means that Berkshire sired pigs are born outdoors and spend their entire life outdoors; giving them freedom to roam and express natural rooting behavior. Because roaming, rooting and eating are all in a days work for a contented pig, we believe the Berkshire sired pork will taste better by providing this specific environment.
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How do you look after animal welfare?
All our pig farmers work to the Assured British Pig Scheme and the RSPCA Freedom Foods Scheme, and are regularly audited to ensure high standards of welfare and animal husbandry. Pigs are only transported by hauliers approved by Assured British Pigs and Freedom Foods, and journeys may not last longer than four hours (most are under 1.5 hours). On arrival, the pigs are inspected by an Independent Veterinary Surgeon and given fresh water.
Waitrose pork is used in all of our sausage, bacon, Easy to Cook and Cooked meat ranges where relevant.
Try these pork recipes:
Paprika Pork
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Strips of pork, cooked until meltingly tender, are delicious bound in a creamy sherry sauce. Serve with bread to mop up the juices.
Creamy Pork with Porcini and Butternut Squash
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This wonderfully rich dish is great for entertaining, as it requires little preparation and no last-minute touches. You can double up the quantities if you're feeding more than four. Serve with rice and baby spinach, dressed with olive oil, lemon and sea salt.