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| TV chef loses Tesco chicken vote | TV chef loses Tesco chicken vote |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Tesco shareholders have not backed proposals to improve welfare standards for chickens championed by TV cook Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. | |
| The chef wanted investors to adopt new standards for rearing birds, but the plan got 10% of votes at Tesco's annual general meeting in Solihull. | The chef wanted investors to adopt new standards for rearing birds, but the plan got 10% of votes at Tesco's annual general meeting in Solihull. |
| Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall and other chefs have highlighted what they say are appalling conditions in some farms. | Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall and other chefs have highlighted what they say are appalling conditions in some farms. |
| But Tesco maintains it sources chickens from farms with high standards. | But Tesco maintains it sources chickens from farms with high standards. |
| Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall called the backing he garnered for his proposals a "significant showing" and denied that his efforts had been wasted. | |
| For the plans to have been passed, Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall needed 75% of the shareholders' votes. | For the plans to have been passed, Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall needed 75% of the shareholders' votes. |
| High-profile campaign | High-profile campaign |
| Tesco, which accounts for more than a fifth of all intensively reared chickens sold, was criticised earlier this year when it cut the retail price of its standard whole chicken to £1.99. | Tesco, which accounts for more than a fifth of all intensively reared chickens sold, was criticised earlier this year when it cut the retail price of its standard whole chicken to £1.99. |
| Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall, star of food shows including Back to River Cottage, and a Tesco shareholder, has highlighted the plight of chickens in many intensive indoor battery farms. | Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall, star of food shows including Back to River Cottage, and a Tesco shareholder, has highlighted the plight of chickens in many intensive indoor battery farms. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYI would love to pay more for food if it increased the quality of life for these animals but at the moment I can't afford itSue, Tunbridge Wells Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYI would love to pay more for food if it increased the quality of life for these animals but at the moment I can't afford itSue, Tunbridge Wells Send us your comments |
| He and other celebrity chefs argue that conditions in such farms are unacceptable and that supermarkets are partly to blame for this for selling chickens too cheaply. | He and other celebrity chefs argue that conditions in such farms are unacceptable and that supermarkets are partly to blame for this for selling chickens too cheaply. |
| He had urged shareholders to support his motion, which would require Tesco to adopt higher minimum standards for chickens it purchases. | He had urged shareholders to support his motion, which would require Tesco to adopt higher minimum standards for chickens it purchases. |
| Had the proposal been backed by shareholders, Tesco would have had to adopt the RSPCA's freedom farm standards on how birds are fed, exercised and transported. | Had the proposal been backed by shareholders, Tesco would have had to adopt the RSPCA's freedom farm standards on how birds are fed, exercised and transported. |
| Farms approved by the RSPCA for meeting "higher welfare" standards are able to carry the freedom farm logo on their products. | Farms approved by the RSPCA for meeting "higher welfare" standards are able to carry the freedom farm logo on their products. |
| Tesco says it has adopted such standards on a growing number of its farms, but that to do so universally straight away would force up the price of chickens and that this would be unpopular with families already facing higher shopping bills. | Tesco says it has adopted such standards on a growing number of its farms, but that to do so universally straight away would force up the price of chickens and that this would be unpopular with families already facing higher shopping bills. |
| But Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall said this was simply not true and that by making such changes, Tesco could make its poultry business more profitable. | But Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall said this was simply not true and that by making such changes, Tesco could make its poultry business more profitable. |
| "We believe that if Tesco does not make these changes, it will begin to lose its share of the poultry market," he said in comments released ahead of the meeting. | "We believe that if Tesco does not make these changes, it will begin to lose its share of the poultry market," he said in comments released ahead of the meeting. |
| "You can't budget your way out of an ethical issue. The gap between what Tesco says and what it does must be closed." | "You can't budget your way out of an ethical issue. The gap between what Tesco says and what it does must be closed." |
| 'High standards' | 'High standards' |
| Tesco demands "high standards" of animal welfare from its suppliers, it says, with all farmers having to meet its code of practice on standards as well as general industry regulations. | Tesco demands "high standards" of animal welfare from its suppliers, it says, with all farmers having to meet its code of practice on standards as well as general industry regulations. |
| "We employ a dedicated team of agricultural specialists to ensure that farmed animals are reared for Tesco in a humane and compassionate manner," it says on its website. | "We employ a dedicated team of agricultural specialists to ensure that farmed animals are reared for Tesco in a humane and compassionate manner," it says on its website. |
| Tesco bosses will be pressed on a range of issues | Tesco bosses will be pressed on a range of issues |
| "We ensure that our standards are met by using our internal team of agricultural experts and independent auditors, who carry out third-party inspections." | "We ensure that our standards are met by using our internal team of agricultural experts and independent auditors, who carry out third-party inspections." |
| Corporate governance firm PIRC, which backed Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall's resolution, said it had not expected to win the vote but that it had raised awareness of the issue. | Corporate governance firm PIRC, which backed Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall's resolution, said it had not expected to win the vote but that it had raised awareness of the issue. |
| Higher standards would create a "more enriched environment" for chickens and would ultimately be healthier for customers, it added. | Higher standards would create a "more enriched environment" for chickens and would ultimately be healthier for customers, it added. |
| Hot topics | Hot topics |
| Tesco is facing a raft of other shareholder resolutions, most of which are likely to be defeated as powerful institutional investors line up behind up the firm's management. | Tesco is facing a raft of other shareholder resolutions, most of which are likely to be defeated as powerful institutional investors line up behind up the firm's management. |
| Tesco said it could not release details of the resolutions before the meeting started. | Tesco said it could not release details of the resolutions before the meeting started. |
| Other issues that are likely to be debated range from calls for union recognition at its new US stores to allegations of low pay for workers employed by global suppliers, particularly in India. | Other issues that are likely to be debated range from calls for union recognition at its new US stores to allegations of low pay for workers employed by global suppliers, particularly in India. |