TGI Fridays is committed to operating high animal welfare standards and practices and, as one of the UK’s leading restaurant groups, we will only source meat from suppliers who share our commitment. As such, we require suppliers to demonstrate management of animal welfare from farm to fork and at any given time be able to provide the relevant information on request.
What we are already doing at TGI Fridays
We already require all of our meat suppliers to ensure that their farmers and producers comply with UK and, if applicable, EU animal welfare legislation for the relevant species. We also support the Five Freedoms principles proposed by the Farm Animal Welfare Council on the protection of animals kept for farming purposes and insist that our meat suppliers are independently audited to ensure that they are following these principles. The principles are:
1. Freedom from hunger and thirst: by having fresh water available, as well as a suitable diet to maintain health.
2. Freedom from discomfort: by providing safe and healthy environment that has protection from the elements and a comfortable resting area.
3. Freedom from pain, injury and disease: by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment
4. Freedom to display normal behaviour: by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and socialising with other animals of their own kind.
5. Freedom from fear and distress: by preventing overcrowding, and by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
We are conscious that our customers are becoming increasingly concerned and mindful about how their food is sourced and as part of our sourcing strategy, we endeavour to continue to source and improve the welfare of animals in our supply chain.
The Better Chicken Commitment
Here at TGI Fridays, we are known for our chicken and especially our famous sesame chicken strips covered in our secret legendary glaze. TGI Fridays is committed to improving chicken welfare standards and has signed up to the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC). We are committed to meet or exceed the standards set out in the BCC by 2026 for 100% of the chicken in our supply chain.
1. Comply with all EU animal welfare laws and regulations, regardless of the country of production.
2. Implement a maximum stocking density of 30kg/m2 or less. Thinning is discouraged and if practiced must be limited to one thin per flock.
3. Adopt breeds that demonstrate higher welfare outcomes: either the following breeds, Hubbard Redbro (indoor only), Norfolk Black, JACY57, JA757, 787, 957, or 987, Rambler Ranger, Ranger Classic, and Ranger Gold, or others that meet the criteria of the RSPCA Broiler Breed Welfare Assessment Protocol.
4. Meet improved environmental standards including:
a. At least 50 lux of light, including natural light.
b. At least two metres of usable perch space, and two pecking substrates, per 1,000 birds.
c. On air quality, the maximum requirements of Annex 2.3 of the EU broiler directive, regardless of stocking density.
d. No cages or multi-tier systems.
5. Adopt controlled atmospheric stunning using inert gas or multi-phase systems, or effective electrical stunning without live inversion.
6. Demonstrate compliance with the above standards via third-party auditing and annual public reporting on progress towards this commitment.
We are pleased to be part of this commitment as we believe it is important to work towards advancing animal welfare standards. We continue to review this commitment and our progress on an annual basis. Currently our suppliers are compliment with all EU animal welfare laws and regulations. We are on our journey to the 2026 BCC.
To date our suppliers have achieved:
• Currently our chicken suppliers are working to a stocking density of maximum 39 kg/m2.
• All chickens in our supply chain have permanent access to dry and friable litter, as per EU regulation.
• 80% of chickens in our supply chain are compliant to Thinning guidelines.
• Currently, 80% of chickens have access to >50 Lux light intensity and have access to some natural light.
• 100% compliance to ECC Light Regime (as per EU legislation: ≥6 hours total, including, ≥4 hours of uninterrupted darkness).
• 80% of our chickens are compliant to the enrichment perch space and pecking substrate of ≥2m of permanently available perch space per 1000 birds and ≥2 pecking substrates permanently available per 1000 birds.
• Electrical water bath stunning and CAS: Electrical water bath stunning is the main method used globally for the slaughter of poultry. There are, however, significant animal welfare concerns with this method and suppliers continue to look to incorporate other methods
• All are compliant to air quality guidelines.
• There is ongoing work to do by 2026 to review the compliance of breeds used.
