Pigs
Our fresh pork is 100% FREE RANGE
All our mince, steaks, chops and joints are now free range and British. We’re the only supermarket to make this welfare commitment.
This means all our fresh pork is from pigs that spend their whole lives outdoors, free to do the things pigs love to do – like wallow, root, roam, socialise and go inside their shelters when they choose.
We’ve made this change because we believe in raising welfare standards wherever we can. Our previous commitment guaranteed that all our pork was outdoor bred, meaning piglets spend the first 5-6 weeks outside before moving into airy barns with deep straw bedding. Now you’ll know you’ve chosen fresh pork that’s been raised in the great outdoors by farmers who share our values.
And we’re not stopping there: by the end of 2027, all our pork – including bacon, sausages, gammon, sliced ham and more – will be free range.
Check out our NEW welfare label
We’ve introduced A+ to D welfare ratings on our pork packaging, ranging from indoor bred to organic. Most supermarkets stock the lowest rating (the legal minimum) or, at best, outdoor bred. We've gone further by committing to 100% free range British pork by the end of 2027.
Our pigs live outdoors from the day they’re born, free to explore their paddock and shelter whenever they like. Living this way means they can wallow in mud, root and dig in the soil, and socialise in groups (because like us, they love to be with their own kind).
You'll see our new welfare label on packs.
We STRIVE to keep our pigs HAPPY
- Our fresh pork is 100% free range. This includes our mince, steaks, chops and joints. We’re the only supermarket to make this welfare commitment.
- By the end of 2027, all our own-brand pork will be free range.
- Our fresh pork comes from pigs that spend their entire lives outside, in the fresh air. Our breeding sows give birth to their piglets in warm, comfortable farrowing huts. We never use farrowing crates and never will.
- All our pork comes from British farmers we know and trust – and that includes sausages, bacon, British ham, gammon and any ingredients in prepared food and ready meals, such as sandwiches and pies, too.
- In recognition of the consistently high animal welfare standards upheld by our farmers, we have held Compassion in World Farming's Good Pig award since its inception in 2012. We were also winners of the Sustainable Food & Farming Award in 2024.
- All our pig farmers follow high animal welfare standards, which set out requirements on every aspect of how the animals live, from what they eat to the amount of space they have. All our free range pigs have at least twice the recommended amount of space, meaning more room to explore and root around in.
MEET the farmer
For over 30 years, the Baker family has proudly supplied Waitrose with higher welfare pork. A visit to one of their East Anglian farms makes it clear why their approach stands out. Living in the open air, where they can dig about and wallow in mud as they please, their pigs are very obviously happy.
“Everyone that visits our farms comments on how wonderful it is to see them displaying their natural behaviours,” the Bakers share. “We give them a good quality of life, with lots of space to roam.”
Michael and Ian Baker are committed to trying out ways to improve animal welfare on their Norfolk farm
“We give them a good quality of life, with lots of space to roam”
But the Bakers are always looking to raise their already high welfare standards. "We’ve found better ways to do things and keep trying to improve,” says Michael.
Switching to feeding the sows from a long trough, rather than from the ground made a big difference. “It means in winter the sows can easily get to the food. It’s not just fired across a muddy field where it gets tramped in,” says Michael. It also makes sure the pushiest sows don’t – excuse the pun – hog the food. “Because they’re all eating in a line, it’s easier to check each sow is feeding,” says Ian.
“We’re thrilled that Waitrose have committed to free-range pork across their own-label products and that they continue to be in the vanguard when it comes to animal welfare."
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