Companies doing their bit for animal welfare reach RSPCA awards finals
Companies doing their bit for animal welfare reach RSPCA awards finals
RSPCA Good Business Awards shortlists are revealed
“It now makes good business sense to improve animal welfare.” This is the conclusion of the RSPCA Good Business Awards judges who today (Tuesday) announced the companies who have made the finals of this year’s competition.
From household names to small family businesses, every shortlisted company is going the extra mile or doing something different for animal welfare.
The judges were particularly impressed by the number and high standard of entries in the independent food retailer category, which they said reflects a shift in consumer attitudes and increased demand for higher welfare and local produce.
Food judge, journalist and TV presenter Richard Johnson said: ““For me, the RSPCA Good Business Awards are all about going the extra mile and recognising the businesses that are doing something a little bit more – and a little bit different – from the rest.
“From this year’s entries it’s clear that it now makes good business sense to improve animal welfare. It makes a real point-of-difference in a very competitive market place.”
Designer and co-founder of Red Or Dead Wayne Hemingway, one of the judges of the fashion category, added: “It’s no longer acceptable to sell goods without proving their provenance, as shoppers continue to be concerned about the origin of the items they purchase and the production process behind them.“
In the fashion category high street favourites George at Asda and New Look have made it to the shortlist along with Beyond Skin (Brighton), Finisterre (St Agnes, Cornwall), Frank and Faith (West Stafford, Dorchester), The North Circular (Oakham, Leicestershire) Rapanui (Sandown, Isle of Wight) and Rewardrobe (London).
Daylesford Farmshop (Kingham, Gloucestershire), Edge and Son (New Ferry, Wirral), The Ginger Pig (Pickering, North Yorkshire and London), J W Metterick and Son Ltd (Glossop, Derbyshire), Riverford Organic (farms in Devon, Hampshire, Cambridgeshire and Yorkshire, delivers around the UK) and The Welsh Farmyard (Sketty, Swansea) were all shortlisted in the independent food retailer category.
High-street giants the Co-operative, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s are all in with a chance of winning an award in the supermarket category, while in the pubs category The Feathers Inn (Hedley on the Hill, Northumberland), The Navigation Inn (Oswestry, Shropshire) and The Oxenham Arms Inn and Restaurant (South Zeal, Devon) have been shortlisted.
Independent restaurants Due South (Brighton), Lussmans Fish and Grill Restaurants (St Albans, Hertford and Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire) and Strattons Hotel (Swaffham, Norfolk) have made the final, along with Accent Catering Services Ltd and Eco Cuisine who are the shortlisted caterers.
The Co-operative, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Whole Foods Market are shortlisted in the People’s Choice Supermarket award, which is voted for by the public. To vote, visit the Independent’s website: www.independent.co.uk/voterspca or you can also vote by text.
To vote for:
— The Co-operative, text COOP to 60022
— Marks & Spencer, text MANDS to 60022
— Sainsbury’s, text SAINS to 60022
— Whole Foods Market, text WHOLE to 60022
Texts cost your normal network rate and voting will close at 23:59hrs on Friday 9 September 2011.
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Notes to editors:
— The RSPCA Good Business Awards reward the food and fashion companies with the best animal welfare policies, and in particular those who are trying to improve and develop their work to improve animal welfare.
— Judges for the fashion category are Lisa Armstrong, Daily Telegraph fashion editor, Wayne Hemingway, designer and co founder of Red or Dead and Shelly Vella, fashion director of Cosmopolitan magazine.
Judges for the food category are journalist and TV presenter Richard Johnson, independent food consultant Dr Geoff Spriegel and Prof John Webster, Professor Emeritus at Bristol University.
— For more information about the awards, please visit www.rspcagoodbusinessawards.com.
— To find out more about ethical food and fashion, go to www.goodthings.org.uk.
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