Recognition

Most companies acknowledge animal sentience (75%), showing progress in basic awareness, although a small number still fail to do so. Only a minority of companies – 10% (2 out of 20) – have taken the next step of linking animal welfare with positive farming and the need for protein portfolio rebalancing, indicating that many have yet to recognise the interconnected nature of these key levers for meaningful food system transformation.

Commitments

95% of companies (19 out of 20), have cage-free commitments. However, meaningful, time‑bound commitments in other key welfare areas – such as higher welfare broiler standards, no sow stalls and farrowing crates, and no dairy cow tethering – lag behind. A few companies lead the way with strong, UK‑wide commitments. Whilst the scope of some commitments lack universality and or transparency in scope, 50% of companies (10 out of 20) have committed to higher welfare chicken based on Better Chicken Commitment criteria*, 21% (4 out of 20) for ending the use of sow stalls, 32% (6 out of 19) for ending the use of farrowing crates, and 45% (9 out of 20) for ending the use of tethering for dairy cows.

*Since the completion of the 2025 Spotlight assessment, 3 companies included in the assessment have since withdrawn their BCC commitment.

NOTE: the assessment was based on commitments covering own-brand products only, with the exception of cage-free commitments which includes both own-brand shell eggs, egg products and ingredient eggs, as well as branded shell eggs.

Measurement & Reporting

Only 20% of companies (4 out of 20) demonstrate transparent, comprehensive reporting on the number of farm animals by species and methods of production, highlighting the need for the sector to track progress and report more openly. Of the four companies reporting, only one provides numbers of animals by method of production for all species.

Implementation

Progress beyond cage-free hens and salmon stunning remains limited, indicating a need for improved transparency in reporting scope and stronger implementation plans to translate commitments into measurable outcomes.

Cage-free hens: The most widely reported metric with 90% of companies reporting; 9 companies greater than 41% transition; of which 6 are already at 99 to 100%.
Better Chicken Commitment: 18 companies at less than 1% transition; 1 company at 31%; 1 company at 99 to 100% BCC-compliance (scored in line with lowest performing BCC criteria).
Ending sow stalls: 3 companies greater than 41% transition; of which 2 at 99 to 100%.
Ending farrowing crates: 3 companies greater than 41% transition; of which 1 at 99 to 100%.
Ending dairy cow tethering: 6 companies greater than 41% transition; of which 2 at 99 to 100%.
Beef: group housed as calves, throughout rearing: 3 companies greater than 41% transition; of which 1 at 99 to 100%.
Farmed salmon percussion or electrocution, stunning or slaughter: 12 companies at less than 1% transition; 8 companies at 99 to 100%.

Please note, the assessment was based on transition progress for own-brand products only.