Whole Foods ranked ‘most humane’ grocer
Austin, Texas Whole Foods Market has been ranked at the top of a list of the most humane grocers, according to a report in Progressive Grocer.
Whole Foods took the No. 1 spot among the Top 25 U.S. supermarkets by annual sales. The second annual survey by Boston-based World Society for the Protection of Animals found that Whole Foods offered twice as many humanely labeled products per store -- 83 -- as the two grocers tied for second place, Shaw’s Supermarkets and Publix Super Markets.
The lowest-ranked food retailer in the survey was Save-A-Lot, with no humanely labeled products found in its stores.
“The survey results indicate that people are becoming more sensitive to the cruel and unsustainable methods used to raise farm animals and are seeking humane alternatives when they shop, regardless of cost,” Dena Jones, U.S. programs director for WSPA, said. “Consumer demand influences what stores offer, and it is encouraging to see grocers responding by increasing humane food options even in a recession.”