Should Tesco have listened to Hugh's views?

Celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has claimed victory in his ongoing row with Tesco about how the supermarket giant treats its chickens after 10% of its shareholders backed his resolution at the company's AGM this morning.

The Channel 4 presenter wants the company to set higher minimum welfare standards for chickens, but Tesco said before the meeting that it was proud of its welfare standards.

The retail giant asked its shareholders to vote against the resolution claiming that it would restrict choice for its customers.

Who's side are you on? 

As s Free Range consumer, you'd expect me to say Tesco were wrong. But I'm torn. They have the right not to agree with HFW - but so do consumers. I don't agree with the decision, but if people voted with their feet a little more, pressure would mount. Until then, the price wars will continue. 

Of course they should have done and what's more, consumers should be aware of where their food comes from

If there's a general consensus amongst consumers about wanting to have greater knowledge about where food comes from coupled with a growing concern about animal welfare, then yes they should have listened, as there is a strong argument there.  With the growth in organics promoting fresher produce with transparency, and the growth in Fairtrade promoting equality and fairness in production through similar honesty, then maybe there is this growing culture of consumers who want to be kept in the know so that they can make the right purchasing decisions for them.  On the flipside, there's always going to be the people, and I am afraid to say I am one of them, who are ultimately swayed by price over morals.  If I could, I am sure I would by better chicken, but I simply cannot afford to. But if better welfare means more cost to the consumer, then there will be a sticking point. 

I watched all of the programs during the "chicken week" and I have to say, I didnt really make me want to purchase organic or free range, I grew up on a farm so I always knew how animals were killed, I've killed chickens and geese myself when it came to slaughter day (although all of ours were free range).  I think with current pricing, people should have the option to purchase lower quality foods - some people cant afford the more expensive.  In an ideal world yes we would all want to eat well brought up chickens, but I think there are more important issues in the world which need looking at before chickens

The poster above has hit the nail on the head. I buy organic food and am happy to pay that little bit extra to do so, but a large number of consumers simply can't afford to. You can put as much pressure on the supermarkets as you like, but they have to supply what the consumers want.