Dear David Potts,
As the CEO of Morrisons, you have a duty of care regarding the source of your products and it is with urgency that you must act today. Morrisons is a ‘beef partner’ of Buitelaar Group, who pride themselves on ‘high welfare’ and ‘sustainability’, yet undercover footage reveals the gross commodification of calves at one of their centres.
Following an investigation by Animal Justice Project, where hidden cameras were installed in Buitelaar’s Wrexham Collection Centre, the objectification of calves was exposed, making it more urgent than ever for you to act. Morrisons simply cannot continue to profit from exploiting young, vulnerable calves.
This mega calf trader was responsible for calves going without food for long periods of time – up to 21 hours. As seen in the heart-wrenching undercover footage, tiny calves were roughly pushed and kneed down trailer ramps and into crushes, forcing them to fall on their delicate legs onto concrete floors and metal ramps.
The ‘Buitelaar Promise’ states that calves are “treated with the utmost respect” and that the company has “higher welfare values”. How is viciously pulling calves by their tails respectful? The panicked and frightened calves, I am certain, would not agree. It is abundantly clear that Buitelaar shows utter disregard for the calves and only care about treating them like mere objects for profit.
I demand that you cut ties with this giant calf trader and make a public statement declaring the end of your relationship. Morrisons is a British company that should be leading the way in plant-based agriculture and technology, in the hope to create a better, more sustainable future for everyone. Please act now before more calves are processed like shelf products and sent to their inevitable deaths.
Yours faithfully,