A Review of Fast Food Companies' Approaches to Animal Welfare

Jones, Peter ORCID: 0000-0002-9566-9393 and Comfort, Daphne (2022) A Review of Fast Food Companies' Approaches to Animal Welfare. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 5 (1). pp. 32-34. doi:10.1108/JHTI-09-2020-0170

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Abstract

Purpose This review paper extends the literature on animal welfare in the hospitality industry by exploring how some of the major fast food companies have publicly addressed this issue. Design/Methodology/Approach The paper reviews, and reflects on, the animal welfare statements and policies posted on the Internet by five major fast food companies namely, Yum! Brands, Restaurant Brands International, McDonald’s, Domino’s Pizza Group, and Subway. Findings The findings reveal that four interlinked themes, namely strategic corporate commitment, a focus on supply chains, policies on specific categories of animals and food products, and auditing, illustrated the selected companies approach to animal welfare. The authors also raise a number of issues about the selected companies’ approaches to animal welfare including the aspirational nature of their commitments, the emphasis on regular audits, the role of external assurance in the reporting process, the role of animal welfare pressure groups and campaigns, and the impact of COVID-19. Research limitations and Implications The paper’s empirical material is drawn from the corporate websites of five fast food companies, but the paper has theoretical and practical implications and provides a platform for future research. Originality/ Value The paper offers a simple review of the way five major fast food companies have addressed the issue of animal welfare.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Animal welfare; Animal welfare statements; Corporate social responsibility; Fast food companies; Auditing
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HF Commerce > HF5001 Business > HF5387 Business Ethics
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Business, Computing and Social Sciences
Research Priority Areas:	Applied Business & Technology
Depositing User:	Anne Pengelly
Date Deposited:	03 Dec 2020 11:35
Last Modified:	03 Aug 2023 08:40
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/9057

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