Compass Group USA Aims to Increase ‘Higher Welfare Pork’

The world’s largest foodservice company, Compass Group USA, has announced its plan to “eliminate pork that comes from animals bred using gestation [stalls] in its U.S. supply chain,” the company said in a recent report.

The company adds that it has steadily increased the percentage of “higher welfare pork” served, however industry-wide supply chain challenges have continued to cause delays. As a step towards their end goal, the company will transition, at minimum, to serving only group housed pork (pigs stalled for 5 to 7 days) by summer 2023.

This announcement adds to the company’s prior animal welfare goals and commitments, including the use of exclusively cage-free eggs, serving chicken meat exclusively from operations that meet the Better Chicken Commitment standards, and sourcing foods produced with minimal use or free from chemicals and antibiotics, including milk, yogurt and poultry.

The company’s brands include Bon Appetit Management Company, Canteen, Unidine, Restaurant Associates and Wolfgang Puck Catering and runs dining operations at schools, colleges, hospitals and other facilities and serves over 11 million meals per day.

In addition to the company’s animal welfare policies, the company openly states in its report, “We continually create programs and promotions that help our cafes increase the menuing of whole grains and vegetables in an effort to reduce the amount of animal proteins being served.”