Freedom Food Accreditation First for Sainsbury's Northern Ireland Supplier

County Antrim farmer Alistair Bell is set to be the first pork supplier in Northern Ireland to achieve the coveted 'Freedom Food' Farm Assurance. In conjunction with Dungannon based processor Dunbia both organisations have been given the RSPCA Freedom Food stamp of approval to supply Sainsbury's with Freedom Food pork.

The Freedom Food farm assurance scheme is dedicated to improving the welfare of farm animals and ensures that animals are reared in accordance with strict RSPCA standards.

Sainsbury's first started working with the RSPCA in 2004 on the Freedom Food farm assurance scheme. Sainsbury's currently sells Freedom Food labelled eggs, chicken, pork, veal and fresh salmon. Alistair Bell is the first Northern Ireland farm to be fully certified as producing Freedom Food pork products from fork to plate.

Alistair Bell, Sainsbury's supplier said, "I am delighted along with Dunbia to have been awarded this highly coveted certification from Freedom Food. The Freedom Food scheme covers every stage of a farm animal's life, each governed by strict and compulsory RSPCA welfare standards. This means providing animals being reared for food with an environment that meets their needs - needs not confined to space, food and water but psychological needs too.

So providing a stimulating environment that enables the animals to exhibit their natural behaviour is very important. We have worked very hard to provide this type of environment and we are looking forward to seeing our Freedom Food produce on the shelves of Sainsbury's 12 stores here in Northern Ireland."

Pork Buyer for Sainsbury's Siobhan Barnes said: "We work closely with suppliers and processors to identify farmers who may be eligible to meet this extremely high standard of production. Alistair and his team have worked very hard to meet the criteria which encourages higher welfare standards and with regular traceability checks carried out, from supermarket shelf right back to the farm. It is also important to have a local processor like Dunbia approved by the scheme to complete the supply chain. We will be working with a number of other farmers going forward in increase the number of Freedom Food approved farms in Northern Ireland."

Roger Burnley, Retail and Logistics Director for Sainsbury's, added, "We are delighted to be announcing this collaboration between our pork supplier, Alistair Bell, and our processor Dunbia. These organisations are working together with Sainsbury's to ensure our customers have a variety of local produce including Freedom Food which is sourced and processed here in Northern Ireland. It is a testament to the many suppliers, processors and farmers that we work with here in Northern Ireland that we are constantly able to achieve among the highest standards of food production in this region."

Sainsbury's currently sources around £250 million worth of produce from Northern Ireland from more than 150 suppliers.

Pictured L-R are: Roger Burley, Retail and Logistics Director, Sainsbury's, Siobhan Barnes, Pork Buyer, Sainsbury's, and Alastair Bell, County Antrim pork farmer.