The Chicken Out campaign is making a real difference! Take a look at this great update from HFW…

Dear Chicken Out Supporter,

It’s been a while since I’ve been in touch and there is much to report. The main headline must be that now, well over two months since the series went out on Channel 4, the massive increase in demand for Free Range and higher welfare poultry is holding up around the country.
Some of you will have seen The Independent’s front page a couple of weeks back, heralding the success of the campaign and the remarkable increase in the sales of Free Range chicken. That is fantastic and it’s very much thanks to determined pressure and continuing action from you, and those who share your view. Thank you all.

The Independent, 28th February 2008

But there is still a lot to do. Such is the shift in the nation’s chicken buying habit that scarcity of Free Range supply continues to be a major issue. We are in contact with all of the supermarkets to find out how they are planning to address this situation both now, and in the long term. It’s vital that we, and you, keep up the pressure, so that the industry has the confidence to invest in higher welfare poultry farms that will meet the increased demand for years to come.

And it is happening. There’s no doubt that the retailers and the poultry industry were taken by surprise by the sheer scale of the increased consumer demand for better chicken and this is not something they can resolve overnight. However we are hearing reports from all over the country of intensive factory farms queuing up to change over to both higher welfare (eg RSPCA Freedom Foods) and Free Range production.

This is one of the themes we will be following up and reporting on in the new series of River Cottage which will be coming to your screens in late May. Thanks also to the hundreds of you who responded to my request to send in pictures of empty supermarket shelves we’ll be using some of these in the new series!

I have to say that we too have been amazed by the level of response from the nation: but the clear message to consumers and supporters is to keep up the pressure by continuing to demand fresh British chicken reared in non-intensive conditions.

We’re also keen to extend the campaign, and the Chicken Out challenge, to the catering trade and the fast food industry. I’ve recently, through Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine, issued a challenge to chefs and food businesses all over Britain to take up the Free Range challenge.

Supermarkets and industry aside, the response from the grass roots has been fantastic. We’ve heard about schools, local councils, work canteens and the like launching their own campaigns and new menus to help bring about a Free Range future. Several schools have adopted ex-battery hens. Another group is looking to re-house some 13,500 of them in July (please help them out!). Another supporter is starting her own Free Range market in Suffolk (and looking for local producers to help out again, you can get involved!). And much, much more.

All of this action, and the opportunity to support it, can be found on our forum on this website. Our campaign has also now hit Australia with interest by their public to follow in your footsteps. This is momentum that we can all keep building on.

Thanks again for your outstanding support - and stay tuned for my second Free Range Challenge, which will be posted here soon.

All the best

Hugh

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