A first for petfood in Europe

Hill's Pet Nutrition is the first pet food manufacturer to commit to the BCC in Europe. By the end of 2030, 100% of its chicken supplies will comply with the BCC criteria.

The pet food sector buys large amounts of products and by-products from chicken farming, and as such, is a key stakeholder for a successful transition to the BCC in Europe.

Louise Valducci, Head of Food Business (Europe) at Compassion said: "The pet food sector is often a silent but essential partner in food production, balancing economic stability by purchasing large volumes of chicken cuts and co-products. I personally congratulate the team at Hill’s for their commitment, which will have a stabilising effect on supply chains by increasing investment to directly support producers in transitioning to higher welfare chicken.

“Seeing a pet food company strive to create such valued partnerships with its suppliers, with a public roadmap that ensures security of procurement and investment, is to be applauded. The Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s team has clearly worked diligently to create a pathway for successful implementation, setting a great example for other companies to follow. The BCC needs companies to work together to ensure that strong partnerships can create supply and scale and find innovative ways to ensure that costs do not erode progress."

A concrete plan for implementation

Hill’s Pet Nutrition has also published its roadmap for implementing the Better Chicken Commitment, developed with the support of Compassion’s Food Business team. This roadmap outlines the key steps needed to achieve their objectives, with progress updates to be shared annually on their website.

The roadmap offers clear visibility of Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s deadlines for meeting BCC criteria, reflecting the in-depth work conducted by their teams and broiler suppliers. This roadmap enables producers supplying Hill’s to plan the required volumes of BCC-compliant chickens and adapt their farms to meet the company's needs.

“Transforming our supply chain takes time, but with Compassion in World Farming, together, we're committed to making our roadmap a reality - leading the way to a more humane and sustainable future for farm animals and our industry,” commented Gérald Mastio, Executive Vice President - General Manager, Hill’s Pet Nutrition EMEA.

In addition to committing to the BCC, since 2024, 100% of Hill’s formulas have been made with eggs and products sourced from cage-free farms. This change marks a significant step forward for the welfare of laying hens, achieved one year ahead of the deadline set by the company.

Read more about the Better Chicken Commitment

Hill’s Pet Nutrition signs up to the Better Chicken Commitment