NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND, July 20, 2011
/24-7PressRelease/ -- Packington Free Range, the Staffordshire-based free range pig and poultry farmers, have won two prestigious awards at this year's 2011 Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards. The Leadership Award in Pig Welfare and the Good Chicken Award, were presented to the farm's joint managing director Robert Mercer at a ceremony held at the Union Grand Lodge in London on 6 July.
Robert Mercer, who runs Packington Free Range with his brother Alec is the fourth generation of his family to farm in the area, which was started in 1922 in the Staffordshire village of Barton-under-Needwood.
Packington's free range approach to farming is recognised by the RSPCA Freedom Food accreditation. Chickens are reared in small sheds with access to traditional pasture whilst each pig spends its entire life outdoors from birth to slaughter, with their tails and teeth intact; there is no use of growth hormones or antibiotics.
Packington Free Range was recognised by the awards' organisers Compassion in World Farming for their continued commitment to the welfare of their animals and their ethical farming methods, in order to provide a sustainable food source.
Robert says, "We are very proud to have been presented with this award. We have, for many years, strived to farm in such a way so that the animal's welfare and the environment around them come first, whilst still being able to achieve good performance results.
"We are incredibly proud of our animals and the way in which we farm them, and are thrilled that this has been acknowledged. This award will help to demonstrate to our customers that we really are at the forefront in pig and poultry welfare and as such having an award from Compassion behind us, only strengthens this case."
The event awards food companies making positive steps towards higher farm animal welfare standards, attracting huge brands such as McDonalds, Hellmans, Mr. Kipling and all the major supermarkets in the UK. The evening was hosted by TV chef and farm animal welfare advocate Paul Merrett.
Compassion in World Farming is the leading international farm animal welfare charity, campaigning to end cruel factory farming. Launched in 2007, Compassion's Food Business Team works with some of the world's top food companies, inspiring progress through the awards scheme and supporting products and initiatives which represent tangible benefits for both farm animals and businesses. Compassion, working with the food industry, improves the lives of millions of farm animals each year, moving towards a more ethical and sustainable food supply.
Packington Free Range supply butchers and farm shops around the country. For stockists please visit http://www.packingtonfreerange.co.uk
About Us:
Packington Free Range is based in Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire, where the family has been farming for more than 70 years. Packington Pork and Packington Cockerel are sold in some prestigious farm shops and butchers around the country, including Chatsworth Farm Shop and The Ginger Pig in Borough Market, London.
For more information about Packington Free Range including stockists, images and samples please contact Cream Communications on 0845 388 9584 / 0771 5709982 or email info@creamcommunications.co.uk
For more information about Compassion and its Food Business Team, please contact Julie Jenner, Media Manager on 01483 521950/07584 683485 or email Julie.jenner@ciwf.org.uk
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