DUBLIN Ohio Wendy’s International Inc., based here, said Thursday it has pledged to give preferential buying support to its pork and chicken suppliers who improve humane animal welfare systems.
Following a similar policy set by rival Burger King in April, Wendy’s said it plans to increase its purchases of pork products from hogs not raised in restrictive gestation stalls from 10 percent to 20 percent by the end of 2008.
Wendy’s also said it has decided to give purchasing preference to approved poultry suppliers who use controlled atmosphere stunning, or CAS, systems that gas chickens to render them unconscious prior to processing. The company said that progress would be monitored through animal welfare reviews.
“We believe these actions will lead our suppliers and others in the pork and chicken industry to continue to identify improved methods of handling animals prior to processing,” said Tad Wampfler, senior vice president of supply chain management for the 6,600-unit quick-service chain. He added that Wendy’s started its animal welfare program in the early 1990s.