At Jerónimo Martins, providing high-quality food to our customers means ensuring that every animal in our supply chain is treated with respect. We prioritise animal wellbeing at every stage because we believe food production needs to be better, smarter and safer.
Recognising animals as sentient beings, we work closely with our suppliers and production units to uphold the internationally recognised Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare:
We have banned the use of growth hormones and only allow antibiotics for therapeutic purposes, never for prevention or to promote growth. Stunning before slaughter is mandatory, except for certified religious practices.
We closely monitor animal welfare indicators – such as transport duration and mortality rates – across all countries where we operate. In Portugal, Poland and Colombia we also conduct regular laboratory tests and audits of suppliers and slaughterhouses to ensure compliance with our standards.
98%
fresh private brand eggs
from uncaged hens in 2024
2,000+
gmo analyses carried
out by our molecular biology laboratory in 2024
Our Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Policy strictly prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms, whether plant- or animal-based, as ingredients or additives in our Private Brand and perishable products.
Cage-free eggs
We committed to ensuring that all Private Brand fresh eggs come from uncaged hens by 2025. In 2024, 98% of our fresh Private Brand eggs from cage-free hens (Barn, free-range or organic). Pingo Doce reached the 100% target in 2019 and Biedronka in 2022.
For eggs used as an ingredient in Private Brand products, we are committed to ensuring that, in Portugal and Poland, at least 90% are from uncaged hens. At Biedronka, cage-free eggs have been used in 100% of the Private Brand assortment as an ingredient since 2022. Pingo Doce and Recheio continued to make progress in this regard, reaching 73% and 41% by the end 2024, respectively. At Ara, cage-free eggs are used in 68% of the assortment.
Chicken
In 2024, Biedronka continued to sell free-range chickens totally produced in Poland, raised without antibiotics and fed a non-GMO diet. At Pingo Doce and Recheio, free-range chickens are 100% produced in Portugal.
Beef
Pingo Doce continued to sell Private Brand Angus beef with dual certifications in 2024: Antibiotic-free production and animal welfare (verified under the Welfare Quality® standard and labelled with Welfair™. The banner also offers organic beef, meeting standards such as outdoor access, non-GMO feed and grazing.
Dairy products
The Pingo Doce fresh milk range upheld the Welfair® label, certifying animal welfare according to the Welfare Quality protocol issued by AENOR. This certification is based on four principles: good feed, good shelter, good health and proper animal behaviour. It also assures that dairy cows are not tethered and are free from tail docking.
Explore at our Annual Report website a comprehensive breakdown of our sustainability performance, insights, and forward-looking strategy, in line with the ESRS framework.
AUDITING FROM LAND TO SEA
In 2024, we achieved the goal of inspecting 100% of the fresh egg farms that supply Biedronka’s Private Brand. We also expanded our animal welfare audits to include aquaculture fish suppliers in Poland and in Portugal using our proprietary Fish Welfare Standard.
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A SAFE JOURNEY
In Portugal, since 2021, we have consistently kept animal journey times below 4 hours – well under the recommended maximum of 8 hours – and maintained a mortality rate below 0.25% across all species. In 2024, we began monitoring key animal welfare indicators in Colombia and Poland. In Colombia, the average journey time for beef, chicken and pork was kept under 4.5 hours. In Poland, the mortality rate remained below 0.4% for all species, indicating that animals are not exposed to excessive discomfort, pain or suffering.
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RESPECT FOR ANIMALS IN AGRIBUSINESS
At Jerónimo Martins Agro-Alimentar (JMA) we have implemented advanced animal welfare practices across our production units to ensure comfort, health and ethical treatment.
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