Norway’s biggest grocery retailer – NorgesGruppen – has decided to start phasing in slower growing chicken breeds. The decision is made in accordance with their supplier Nortura, which is the leading Norwegian chicken producer, and comes after more than two years of communication with the Norwegian Animal Protection Alliance.
So far only one of Norway’s three major supermarket retailers has switched entirely to a slower growing chicken breed. Already in 2018, the retailer Rema 1000 replaced all fast growing Ross 308 with slower growing Hubbard JA787, in close co-operation with the Norwegian Animal Protection Alliance.
It is still unclear what breeds retailer NorgesGruppen will choose in the years to come. With its four separate supermarket chains it may end up using several different breeds. The first farms will try out slower growing chicken in 2022, and the first products are expected to be in stores from 2023.
The retail giant has not yet decided at what pace and to what extent the slower growing breeds will be replacing Ross 308.
– The Norwegian Animal Protection Alliance will continue with both dialogue and campaigning until Ross 308 is no longer produced in Norway. However, we are confident that this breakthrough will lead to the end of fast growing chickens, says CEO Anton Krag.
