Inspiration

Sausages

The pork for Waitrose sausages comes from British farms, and from pigs that are outdoor bred.

What's special about Waitrose sausages?

A sausage is only as good as the meat that goes into it. All Waitrose sausages are prepared from prime cuts of succulent British pork, so the same high standards of quality and animal welfare apply in producing them. The pork comes from pigs that are born and weaned outdoors and then moved to light, airy sheds, with straw to sleep on, and room to express their natural behaviour. Our pigs are reared by a carefully selected group of farmers, who understand and share our values and who work with us to protect our environment. And whether you're buying essential Waitrose sausages or Organic sausages, all the pork can be traced back to the group of farms where it was raised.

essential Waitrose sausages

These are sold prepacked and include pork sausages, pork and beef sausages, pork chipolatas and cocktail sausages.

Parchment range sausages

These are made from high quality, selected cuts of coarse-cut British pork shoulder and belly, in a range of recipes, including regional specialities such as Cumberland pork chipolatas and Lincolnshire pork sausages. They're sold prepacked, wrapped in parchment paper.

Speciality sausages

Prepared from selected cuts of shoulder and belly of British pork, our speciality sausages are seasoned with high quality herbs and spices. They're sold prepacked in black trays.

Free range pork sausages

These are prepared from our free-range English-reared pigs sired by Hampshire boars, using only selected cuts of shoulder and belly. The Hampshire Breed is a traditional breed, and its meat is known for its tenderness and flavour. It's reared for us on a limited number of specialist farms based in Norfolk, Suffolk and Wiltshire, where the pigs roam freely outside. The pork is coarsely chopped and mixed with spices to make tasty, succulent sausages, which are sold prepacked and on the service counter.

Organic sausages

Our organic sausages are made from pork reared on a small number of farms in East Anglia. The pigs roam freely outdoors, and are fed an organic, cereal-based diet.

How do you look after animal welfare?

All our pig farmers work to either the Assured British Pig Scheme or the Genesis Assurance Scheme and the RSPCA Freedom Food Scheme, and are regularly independently audited to ensure they meet our high standards of welfare and animal husbandry. Pigs are only transported by hauliers approved by either Assured British Pigs or Genesis and Freedom Food, 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.

Our commitment to animal welfare has been recognised by the RSPCA and Compassion in World Farming, both of which have given specific praise to our pig production systems. We continue to look at ways which can improve our animal welfare standards further.

Try these sausage recipes:

Sausages Baked with Puy Lentil Soup

5 stars out of 5

This hearty dish is such a pleasure to make and the lentils will contribute to your daily fibre intake. It's so simple - just put it in the oven before you get in the shower, and it'll be ready by the time you're out and dressed.

Grilled Sausages with Onion and Beer Relish

4 stars out of 5

Waitrose Organic Pork Sausages come from pigs that are reared on organic land and fed an organic diet. Bring out their flavour by serving them with this delicious relish, which is also made from organic ingredients. Eat with bread or creamy mashed potatoes. During May you will also find some unusual sausages in our sausage fair on the meat service counter.