With 400 million chickens raised and slaughtered every year, the French group LDC He is the main actor in the poultry sector in Europe. Market leader in France, the company controls wide consumer brandsand the Gaulis And Maître coq. In July 2025, LDC has finally announced a formal commitment to adopt all the criteria of Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) – also known as European Chicken Commitment (Etc.) – By 2028. A decision that could mark a turning point in the chicken chain in Europe.
The announcement comes after years of pressure from animalistic associations, in particular of the French L214which conducted targeted public and media campaigns to push LDC to review their practices. Initiatives that involved square mobilizations, undercover investigations and petitions with hundreds of thousands of signatures.
As confirmed in the group’s official press release, the first product lines compliant with the BCC will be launched in 2026 for the Maître Coq and the Gaulois brands. The stated goal is full adhesion by 2028
What really changes with the BCC?
The Better Chicken Commitment is a set of criteria elaborated by a group of European NGOs in 2017 to improve the well -being of meat chickens. Its standards are based on scientific evidence and include:
The contrast with the conventional breeding is clear: according to the latest estimates, over 80% of the chickens raised in France and the 90% in Europe is still subject to intensive practicescharacterized by high density (up to 42 kg/m²), rapid growth breeds and conditions that prevent any natural behavior.
A domino effect?
LDC is not the first European group to join the ECC, but it is certainly the most influential. In France, it already has a market share of 40%, and its membership could push other actors to follow its example. Lucille bellagarde Ciwf France said: “We welcome this decision, which will help to support and accelerate the transition to the BCC for the signatory companies”.
On the Italian front, the path is slower. Fileni Group He announced that he has reached full compliance for his brands, but overall the sector remains far from a large -scale adoption. Second Simone Montuschipresident of Animal“This is the time that more and more companies choose to put an end to the main critical issues of the conventional breeding of chickens”.
In addition to production commitments, LDC is active in the animal welfare labeling. The Loué and Maître Coq brands offer biological or outdoor lines that report clear indications for consumers. The adaptation to the BCC criteria will allow Maître Coq and the Gaulois to access the so -called “level C” of the animal welfare label, recognized by six of the major French distribution chains.
It is a strategy that can have a significant impact, since consumer choices are becoming a key factor in the food market. Transparency on breeding methods, animal welfare and sustainability is increasingly requested on a growing part of the population.
The LDC case shows that the giants of the poultry sector can also change course. The motivations are not only ethical, but also economic and reputational. According to a study by Welfare Footprint Project, respect for BCC criteria reduces up to 78% the time when chickens live in intense pain conditions. And second Eurogroup for animalsthe density and selection of the breeds are the two main indicators on which to act for company policies and regulations.
The scope of LDC’s commitment suggests that the change, if supported by political will, public pressure and transparency, is also possible in the most industrialized supply chains. The next step is now due to the other great European producers – and to the legislators, called to translate scientific evidence to animal welfare into rules.
