Last year vegan charity and campaign group Viva! undertook an undercover investigation into Hogwood pig farm in Warwickshire who supply pork to Tesco.

What they found was truly horrific. When Viva! approached Tesco about their findings Viva! (which were featured in the Sunday Mirror), Tesco refused to drop it as a supplier – reassuring customers that it takes animal welfare ‘extremely seriously’ and that it expects producers to meet ‘stringent, industry-leading requirements’.

Viva! returned this year to find little had changed and in fact had become worse.

“Once again, heart-breaking footage unveils abhorrent conditions that cannot be ignored – overcrowding, pigs covered in excreta, barren, filthy conditions, animals abandoned to die, and cannibalism. In difficult-to-watch scenes, one piglet who had been dumped in a gangway with other sick pigs, was being eaten alive by others. The same callous abandoning of animals in need was filmed during Viva! Campaigns first investigation inside Hogwood.

You can watch the footage at viva.org.uk/hogwood“

So Viva! is calling for people to take a stand against this Red Tractor approved farm and tell Tesco to drop Hogwood as a supplier.

You can do this by

1. Signing the petition

2. Writing to Tesco directly. You can use the following template from Viva!

Dear Dave Lewis, Tesco Plc Group Chief Executive

In view of Viva! Campaigns shocking new undercover investigation at Hogwood Farm in Warwickshire, I urge you to immediately drop the farm as a supplier. Last year Viva! Campaigns exposed abhorrent conditions on Hogwood. In response to this to this Tesco refused to drop the farm as a supplier assuring customers that it takes animal welfare ‘extremely seriously’ and that it expects producers to meet ‘stringent industry-leading requirements’.

It is a shock, therefore, that a second investigation inside Hogwood, carried out only weeks ago (July 2018), reveals overcrowding, pigs covered in excreta, barren and filthy conditions, animals abandoned to die, continued use of farrowing crates and… cannibalism. In difficult-to-watch scenes, a piglet who has been dumped in a gangway with other sick pigs, was literally being eaten alive by others. This is not the first time that the dumping of sick pigs has been filmed here. The same callous abandoning of animals in need was filmed during the first investigation inside Hogwood.

The problems at Hogwood have not gone. In fact in some cases they have got worse. It is clear that Tesco does NOT take animal welfare seriously nor the concerns of customers. Your company’s failure to keep pigs from pain and suffering at Hogwood shows that your assurances are meaningless.

Tesco must act now and hold Hogwood accountable. I urge you to immediately drop the farm as a supplier.

Yours Sincerely

Name and Address

Please send to –

Dave Lewis, Group Chief Executive, Tesco PLC Head Office, Tesco House, Shire Park, Kestrel Way, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1GA

3. Contact Tesco on social media

Facebook:

Help Hogwood Pigs! One year on, what has changed? Viva!’s second investigation of Hogwood Horror Farm has exposed shocking abuse and undeniable welfare breaches. Help #HogwoodPigs. Sign the petition—every little helps. www.viva.org.uk/hogwood/

Twitter:

I’ve pledged to help #HogwoodPigs. Join me in urging @Tesco to dump Hogwood Horror Farm. Sign the petition now—every little helps www.viva.org.uk/hogwood/ @vivacampaigns

Instagram:

Help Hogwood Pigs! I’ve signed the petition urging @tescofood to dump Hogwood Farm! Will you help close Hogwood Farm once and for all? See the videos and follow the link on @vivacharity #HogwoodPigs

4. Take part in a demonstration at a Tesco store on Viva’s nationwide day of action, this Saturday 11th August. Find your local event here.

Customers can have an impact and enact change. Please don’t be a bystander.

Plumes x