The number of sector operators were recognised at this year’s World Farming Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards for their commitment to improve animal welfare standards.

Pret A Manger secured a Good Dairy Award this year, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Greene King, Mitchells & Butlers and Five Guys all won a Good Egg Award, and McDonald’s UK won the Best Marketing Award 2016 for the company’s ‘Good to Know’ campaign.

Tracey Jones, director of Food Business at Compassion, said: “It has been wonderful to see an increase in food service businesses embracing animal welfare.

“Foodservice is often a forgotten sector – when shopping, consumers want to know the provenance of their fresh meat, eggs and dairy products, as well as the type of production system used and likely welfare standards of the animals reared – but often forget to ask the same questions when out for meals or eating on the move.

“Our winners in this sector demonstrate that a real step change in attitudes and approach towards farm animal welfare is taking place and is being done so successfully at a competitive price.”