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Chris Goodacre says sales of organic chicken at Wild at Heart have doubled
We feel like chicken tonight
Charlotte Feetum17/ 1/2008
SALES of organic chicken have soared across south Manchester following a TV expose of the horrors of battery hen production.
Butchers say free-range birds have been flying off the shelves following the screening of the Channel Four programme Hugh’s Chicken Run.
The shows presented by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall aims to demonstrate the cruelty and appalling conditions at many battery farms.
Three different shops have said sales of organic chickens have doubled since the screening of the show.
Warren Frost at WH Frosts butchers in Chorlton precinct said that his sales had doubled since the screening of the show.
He said: "We sold out completely on Saturday. Usually we sell around 100 free-range chickens but this weekend we sold 200.
"Since the weekend we have decided to double our orders to meet the demand, a lot of people aren’t worried about paying that little bit more. It’s good that people are finding out where their food comes from and why the supermarkets can charge so little."
Mike Shaw, regional manager of Organics To Go, a telephone organic food delivery business based in Chorlton, said his orders had also doubled.
Mr Shaw said: "We would expect to sell about 15 organic chickens a week but our orders have already exceeded 30 this week. People are becoming more prepared to forego some of the unnecessary luxuries in order to spend a couple of pounds more on a bird that hasn’t had a horrendous and short life."
Robinson’s on Wilmslow Road, Withington, also saw a doubling in their sales of free-range chickens at the weekend.
Shop worker Andy Hartley said: "We saw a considerable increase in sales, normally we sell around five chickens, but this weekend we sold twelve. The rise in demand has meant we’ve doubled our order for chickens this week."
Staff at Axons Butchers, on Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury, said they sold out of free-range chickens over the weekend.
Shop worker Pete Cale said: "We sold around two hundred chickens and we could have sold more if we’d had more to sell!
"If demand continues like this then we’ll definitely increase our orders, but for now, we’re playing it by ear to see if people continue to be so conscientious."
Organic chickens sold at the shops range from £4.95 and £6.70 per kilogramme while battery hens sold at supermarkets can be as cheap as £2.50 per kilo.
Veena Josh, manager of Wild at Heart on Railway Terrace in Chorlton, which sells organic meats and dairy products, is pleased that the programme has raise awareness of the issue. She said: "I am happy with anyone who manages to raise awareness to the importance of buying free-range produce. Not many people make the connection about where their food is from anymore.
"I have had several phone calls asking if I sold free-range chickens this weekend."
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20/01/2008 at 17:27
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As I understand, conditions are not hugely improved for these so called free-range birds, cages are slightly bigger well whoopie doo!
23/01/2008 at 15:10