Press Release 28th November 2023

Greenpeace market check: BILLA PLUS and BILLA impress with animal welfare pork

BILLA has been committed to the well-being and health of farm animals for many years. The foundation stone for the BILLA family's pioneering role in the area of animal welfare was laid with the banning of battery eggs in 1996, which led to the industry following suit. A lot has happened since then: BILLA is the only food retailer in Austria to exclusively offer fresh meat that is 100 percent Austrian and of animal welfare quality. In the current market check, the environmental organization Greenpeace took a close look at pork in domestic retail. BILLA PLUS took first place with a wide range of pork in organic and animal welfare quality, closely followed by BILLA in second place.

A man in a black cap and uniform, holding a tray of raw meat cuts, stands behind a counter in a meat shop. The shop features green tiles and posters promoting quality and animal welfare.

Greenpeace market check: BILLA PLUS and BILLA impress with animal welfare pork. / Copyright: © BILLA AG / Robert Harson, Abdruck zu redaktionellen Zwecken honorarfrei

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At a glance

Greenpeace examined pork products throughout Austria - BILLA PLUS took first place due to its high animal welfare standards, followed immediately by BILLA
The test particularly highlighted the Hofstädter Fair zum Tier own brand in the conventional range, while in the organic range Ja! Natürlich Freilandschwein and Ja! Natürlich straw pork
Greenpeace market check confirms: Transparent product labeling and husbandry conditions for BILLA PLUS and BILLA pork exceed legal standards

Marcel Haraszti, Management Board member of REWE International AG: "As an animal welfare pioneer, we have already achieved many milestones, such as the recent conversion of our service counters to 100 percent Austrian fresh meat in animal welfare quality. We are delighted that our efforts are reflected so positively in the current Greenpeace market check and that BILLA PLUS and BILLA have emerged as winners. However, we are still a long way from reaching our goal. Animal welfare is right at the top of our agenda and we will not tire of campaigning for better conditions for farm animals."

Tanja Dietrich-Hübner, Head of BILLA Sustainability: "As part of our animal welfare initiative, we are constantly working to improve the conditions in which domestic farm animals are kept. With Ja! Natürlich and the Fair zum Tier range, we offer our customers products that are well above the legal requirements. This is only possible in close and good cooperation with our domestic partner farms. Together, we offer customers affordable animal welfare products of the highest quality. Traceability, transparency and information for customers have priority. The Greenpeace market check shows that our comprehensive information preparation also goes beyond the standards required by law."

Hofstädter Fair zum Tier and Ja! Natürlich convince Greenpeace

The Greenpeace market check particularly emphasized the own brand Hofstädter Fair zum Tier as well as the Ja! Natürlich free-range pig and Ja! Natürlich straw pig.

Hofstädter Fair zum Tier farm animals live under improved conditions in conventional husbandry and are fed GMO-free diets. The husbandry criteria go beyond the legal minimum standards and allow the animals, for example, twice as much space as required by law, with a ban on full slatted floors, mandatory straw bedding and access to an outdoor area. The animal husbandry standards of the AMA " Mehr Tierwohl - sehr gut" module form the basis, but go beyond the AMA criteria in some areas. The Ja! Natürlich free-range pig and Ja! Natürlich straw pigs promise high organic standards in animal husbandry and feeding. The animals only receive organic feed from organic farmland in Austria. Yes! Natürlich free-range pigs have permanent access to pasture.

The detailed results of the Greenpeace market check "Pork" can be found at https://greenpeace.at/marktcheck/schweinefleisch2023/.