RSPCA Good Business Awards shortlists are revealed

18.08.11
 

It now makes good business sense to improve animal welfare.

This is the conclusion of the RSPCA Good Business Awards judges who on Tuesday, 16 August announced the companies who have made the finals of this year’s competition.

From household names to small family businesses, every shortlisted company is going the extra mile or doing something different for animal welfare.

 

Recognising businesses for doing more

The judges were particularly impressed by the number and high standard of entries in the independent food retailer category, which they said reflects a shift in consumer attitudes and increased demand for higher welfare and local produce. 

Food judge, journalist and TV presenter Richard Johnson said:

For me, the RSPCA Good Business Awards are all about going the extra mile and recognising the businesses that are doing something a little bit more – and a little bit different – from the rest.

From this year’s entries it’s clear that it now makes good business sense to improve animal welfare. It makes a real point-of-difference in a very competitive market place.

 

Shortlisted for RSPCA Good Business Awards

Fashion category

In the fashion category high street favourites George at Asda and New Look have made it to the shortlist along with Beyond Skin (Brighton), Finisterre (St Agnes, Cornwall), Frank and Faith (West Stafford, Dorchester), The North Circular (Oakham, Leicestershire) Rapanui (Sandown, Isle of Wight) and Rewardrobe (London).

Independent food retailer category

Daylesford Farmshop (Kingham, Gloucestershire), Edge and Son (New Ferry, Wirral), The Ginger Pig (Pickering, North Yorkshire and London), J W Mettrick and Son Ltd (Glossop, Derbyshire), Riverford Organic (farms in Devon, Hampshire, Cambridgeshire and Yorkshire, delivers around the UK) and The Welsh Farmyard (Sketty, Swansea) were all shortlisted in the independent food retailer category.

Supermarket category

High-street giants The Co-operative, Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury’s are all in with a chance of winning an award in the supermarket category, while in the pubs category The Feathers Inn (Hedley on the Hill, Northumberland), The Navigation Inn (Oswestry, Shropshire) and The Oxenham Arms Inn and Restaurant (South Zeal, Devon) have been shortlisted.

Caterers

Independent restaurants Due South (Brighton), Lussmans Fish and Grill Restaurants (St Albans, Hertford and Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire) and Strattons Hotel (Swaffham, Norfolk) have made the final, along with Accent Catering Services Ltd and Eco Cuisine who are the shortlisted caterers.

Have your say with the People’s Choice Supermarket Award

The Co-operative, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Whole Foods Market are shortlisted in the People’s Choice Supermarket Award, which is voted for by the public.

To vote, visit The Independent’s website: www.independent.co.uk/voterspca or you can also vote by text.

To vote for:

• The Co-operative, text COOP to 60022
• Marks & Spencer, text MANDS to 60022
• Sainsbury’s, text SAINS to 60022
• Whole Foods Market, text WHOLE to 60022.

Texts cost your normal network rate and voting will close at 23:59hrs on Friday, 9 September 2011.
 

Find out more about the RSPCA Good Business Awards

The RSPCA Good Business Awards reward the food and fashion companies with the best animal welfare policies, and in particular those who are trying to improve and develop their work to improve animal welfare.

 

• For more information about the awards, please visit: www.rspcagoodbusinessawards.com
   
• To find out more about ethical food and fashion, go to: www.goodthings.org.uk