artgerechte-haltung-kueken-tierwohl-landwirtschaft-nachhaltigkeit-rewe-group

For high standards of
animal welfare

  • Improving animal welfare

    We take our responsibility to contribute to improving animal welfare and livestock farming for products of animal origin seriously. By working closely with scientists, non-governmental organizations and our business partners, we have been able to provide important impetus for higher animal welfare standards.

    We continuously develop our measures and regularly review their effectiveness. In this way, we are gradually anchoring animal welfare in all our supply chains – and are also helping to protect animals and their habitats from the negative effects of tourism at the DERTOUR Group’s vacation destinations.

Animal welfare at REWE and PENNY

Our goal is to convert 100 per cent of our own-brand fresh meat to at least level 3 farming methods by the end of 2030.

Our goals

Fresh meat from the meat counter at REWE:

  • Achieved in 2021: 50 percent of fresh meat will meet a minimum husbandry system standard of level 2

Own-brand fresh meat (beef, pork and poultry) at REWE and PENNY in Germany in the self-service range and at the service counter:

  • Almost fully achieved by 2025: 100 percent of own-brand fresh meat to be converted to at least level 2 farming methods by the end of 2025

  • Convert 100 percent of own-brand fresh meat* to at least level 3 farming methods by the end of 2030 (*including unprocessed frozen chicken)

Own-brand fresh chicken at REWE and PENNY in Germany in the self-service range and at the service counter:

  • 2025 not fully achieved: convert at least 30 percent of own-brand fresh chicken meat to stage 3 housing by the end of 2025 (the target of 30 per cent will remain in place until the end of 2026)

Own-brand sausage range from REWE and PENNY (beef, pork and poultry) in Germany in the self-service range and in the service counter range:

  • Almost fully achieved by 2025: 100 percent of the own-brand sausage range to be converted to at least Stage 2 by the end of 2025

Own-brand of milk at REWE and PENNY in Germany:

  • Achieved by 2025: 100 percent of drinking milk converted to at least level 2 farming methods

  • Convert 100 percent of drinking milk to at least level 3 production by the end of 2030

  • An open egg carton with 5 eggs and feathers around it.

    Cage-free egg commitment

    The REWE Group is committed to sourcing eggs exclusively from cage-free systems across our global supply chain. In Germany and Austria, the egg portfolio has been cage-free for years. All other REWE Group countries followed suit in early 2026. The only exception at present is Hungary, where a phased plan has been implemented, with the goal of completing it by the end of 2028 at the latest. We remain fully committed to our target and are working diligently to address the remaining challenges. You can find the status quo Status quo here.

  • A pig in a pigsty.

    More animal welfare at REWE and PENNY

    We set clear requirements for suppliers, promote animal welfare through standards and our involvement in various initiatives and want to transform the agriculture and meat industry as well as the food retail sector with innovative approaches.

  • Regional programmes

    By the end of 2030, we will only offer our fresh pork at the service counter and in the chiller cabinet from farming levels 3 and higher. Through our regional programs throughout Germany, we promote regional structures and increase animal welfare through short transport routes. The REWE sales line, for example, offers meat from pigs that are mainly kept on straw under the “Strohwohl” and “Landbauern” brands.

  • Initiative Tierwohl (Animal Welfare Initiative)

    As a founding member, we play a leading role in the development of the “Animal Welfare Initiative” and are committed to improving industry-wide animal welfare standards. REWE and PENNY in Germany have been working since 2024 to make the five levels of husbandry labeling – from level 1 (“stable”) to level 5 (“organic”) – visible on their products nationwide in accordance with the state animal husbandry label.

  • Chicken sitting in straw among other chickens

    Development of chicken meat farming method level 3

    REWE Group is committed to the continuous further development of the husbandry form criteria beyond the objectives of husbandry form level 3 and will only accept improvements in terms of animal welfare. In addition, REWE Group will ensure the use of slow-growing breeds in accordance with the ECC/RSPCA positive list. Waterbath stunning is excluded in REWE Group’s fresh meat supply chains in accordance with the animal welfare guideline. We are currently working on a roadmap to achieve our goals by 2030, the current status of which for 2025 can be viewed on this website under our goals. In addition, we offer here an insight into our current progress in converting the own-brand fresh chicken supply chain.

  • A group of chicks in a chicken coop.

    Technology to prevent the culling of male chicks

    We have converted our own-brand eggs from barn and free-range hens to sexing in the hatching egg (selection). In our dual-purpose chicken project, the organic eggs come from chickens that are also used for meat production in order to avoid the killing of male chicks. in 2024, these organic eggs were tested for REWE Bio in 130 REWE stores in Baden-Württemberg and the Palatinate. We are currently examining the establishment of a supply chain for young chicken meat, which is currently still marketed by the producer Hönig Hof itself.

  • Underwater picture of a sea turtle

    Milestone reached

    DERTOUR Group cancels all excursions or attractions that interfere with the natural behavior of marine mammals.

    • Press release
  • Chickens pecking in the straw in a coop

  • Strategic position fish and seafood

    Fish is an important part of our diet. Around 20 kilos per capita are consumed worldwide every year. Fishing and aquaculture are also of great economic importance, as they provide 59.5 million people with a livelihood. However, both branches of production have negative ecological, social and economic impacts, which we want to actively contribute to eliminating and reducing.

nachhaltigkeitsengagement-rewe-group

Commitments and projects

Our Commitments and projects
nachhaltigkeitsstrategie

Our strategy for greater sustainability

Our strategy for greater sustainability