Egg producers learn importance
of corporate social responsibility
Corporate social
responsibility and
sustainability are
among the three top
concerns for global
food retailers and
delegates at this IEC
Conference.
To learn more about
corporate social
Egg industry leaders across the
world met in London in April for
the first of this year’s International
Egg Commission conferences. The
resounding message of this conference
was the importance of corporate social
responsibility. Delegates discussed
ways in which the egg industry
can protect the environment, while
producing su;cient food to feed
the world’s growing population, and
continuing to provide the best care for
laying hens.
CSR is critical
CSR is now a critical element
for all successful organisations; this
was the message from Professor
David Hughes, a professor of Food
Marketing at Imperial College London.
Professor Hughes told the IEC that
CSR is now consistently listed in the
top three concerns of global retailers,
as reported by the Consumer Goods
Forum. Retail giants, including Wal-Mart and Tesco, have already set their
own CSR targets and sustainable
agriculture goals, and they expect
their suppliers to comply with these.
social responsibility.
Tesco has already asked
its suppliers to reduce the carbon
footprint of their products.
Professor Hughes explained:
“Suppliers that don’t sign up to the
sustainability agenda face the risk of
de-listing.”
Producers and suppliers are under
intense pressure from both retailers
and consumers. Steve Murrells also
addressed the IEC delegates; he is
a former senior executive of Tesco,
and is now CEO of Tulip, the largest
supplier of pork and bacon to the
UK retailers. Having a wealth of
experience from both sides, first as
the retailer, and more recently as
the supplier, Murrells stressed the
importance of understanding and
responding to the retailers’ needs.
He urged egg producers to supply
solutions to retailers and to be at the
Professor David Hughes, of Imperial
College, London, said: "Suppliers that
don't sign up to the sustainability agenda
face the risk of de-listing."
forefront of new innovations and
ideas.
Like Hughes, Murrells recognises
that CSR is huge for retailers, and
believes that it should form an
integral part of all successful suppliers’
business plans: “One of the most
important levers which is just starting
to emerge is the environment and
community; community in terms
of giving something back to the
neighbourhood and environment in
terms of being green.”
Great potential for the egg
industry
Professor Windhorst, IEC Statistical
Analyst, estimates that by 2015 egg
production will need to be as high
as 70.9 million metric tons to meet
global demand. Eggs are the highest
quality, most cost e;ective source of
animal protein, essential in feeding a
growing worldwide population. The
recurring question throughout the
