Most animals in our food system live in dismal conditions. Mother pigs are locked in gestation crates so small they can’t turn around. Egg-laying hens are crammed into cages so tightly they can’t even spread their wings. And chickens in the poultry industry are bred to grow so large so fast that they suffer from agonizing leg disorders.
For many years, the Humane Society of the United States has engaged major food companies on these issues. As a result, most companies have now promised to eliminate some or all of these abusive practices from their supply chains. But countless consumers want to know: Are companies actually keeping their promises?
To answer this question, we developed the Food Industry Scorecard: A year-long audit conducted of roughly 100 major food companies designed to gauge their progress.
Our survey covered three pressing concerns: Hens confined in cages, pigs confined in gestation crates and chickens suffering in poultry production. It also included a question about plant-based options, since diversifying protein in the food industry reduces the demand for factory-farmed products.
Read or Download the Full Scorecard Report
The results are in
The following companies are ranked from best to worst.
To see a detailed analysis of each company and to learn more about the Scorecard process, view the full report [PDF].
Rank
Company
Score
Grade
1
Whole Foods Market
95%
A+
2
Chipotle Mexican Grill
92.5%
A+
3
Bon Appétit Management Co.
78.1%
A+
4
Unilever
(Ben & Jerry’s, Hellmann’s, Breyers, Sir Kensington’s and other brands)
75.24%
A+
5
Southwest Foodservice Excellence
52.86%
A
6
Guckenheimer
51.9%
A
7
Noodles & Co.
50%
A
8
Epicurean Group
45.24%
A-
9
Papa John’s
43.81%
A-
10
TGI Fridays
40.48%
A-
11
Campbell Soup Co.
37.62%
B+
11
Taco Bell
37.62%
B+
12
Disney Parks
35.71%
B+
12
Mondelēz
35.71%
B
13
KraftHeinz
31.43%
B
14
Dunkin’ Brands
29.05%
B
15
Sodexo
27.14%
B-
16
Aramark
26.66%
B-
17
Darden Restaurants
(Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Capital Grille, and more)
26.19%
B-
18
Denny’s
25.24%
C+
18
Panera Bread
25.24%
C+
19
ConAgra Brands
21.9%
C+
20
The Fresh Market
21.43%
C
21
Target
20.95%
C
22
Kellogg’s
20.48%
C
23
Metz Culinary Management
20%
C-
24
Burger King
13.81%
C-
25
General Mills
12.38%
C-
25
Subway Restaurants
12.38%
C-
26
Compass Group USA
9.05%
D+
27
Raley’s
8.57%
D+
27
The Cheesecake Factory
8.57%
D+
28
Nestlé USA
2.38%
D
29
Save Mart
1.43%
D
30
Royal Caribbean International
0.95%
D
31
Kroger
0%
F
32
Hyatt Hotels
-0.48%
F
32
Sonic Drive-In
-0.48%
F
33
Jack in the Box
-3.33%
F
34
Sprouts Farmers Market
-3.81%
F
35
Spectra
-4.76%
F
36
AVI Foodsystems
-5.24%
F
37
Trader Joe’s
-7.62%
F
38
McDonald’s
-8.57%
F
39
Albertsons Companies Inc.
-10.95%
F
40
Costco
-11%
F
41
Elior
-12.38%
F
42
CKE Restaurants
(Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s)
-12.86%
F
43
Carnival Corporation
-12.88%
F
44
Starbucks
-14.29%
F
45
Marriott International Inc.
-15.24%
F
45
Publix
-15.24%
F
46
Delaware North
-17.14%
F
47
Meijer Inc.
-17.62%
F
47
Southeastern Grocers
(Winn-Dixie and BI-LO)
-17.62%
F
48
Guest Services
-19.05%
F
49
Wendy’s
-19.52%
F
50
Thomas Cuisine
-21.43%
F
51
Ingles Markets
-22.38%
F
52
SpartanNash
-22.86%
F
53
Giant Eagle
-23.38%
F
54
Weis Markets
-23.8%
F
55
Popeye’s
-23.81%
F
56
BJ’s Wholesale
-24.76%
F
57
Applebee’s
-27.14%
F
57
Bloomin’ Brands
(Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s, Fleming’s)
-27.14%
F
57
Bojangles’
-27.14%
F
57
Brinker International
(Chili’s & Maggiano’s)
-27.14%
F
57
Hilton Worldwide
-27.14%
F
57
IHOP
-27.14%
F
57
Norwegian Cruise Lines
-27.14%
F
58
Tyson Foods
-27.62%
F
59
Walmart
-28.1%
F
60
Aldi
-28.57%
F
60
Cracker Barrel
-28.57%
F
60
Golden Corral
-28.57%
F
61
KFC
-31.9%
F
62
Little Caesar’s
-32.38%
F
63
Brookshire Grocery
(Brookshire’s, Super1Foods, Spring Market, FRESH)
-33.33%
F
63
Healthcare Services Group
-33.33%
F
63
HEB
-33.33%
F
63
Hy-Vee
-33.33%
F
63
Legends Hospitality
-33.33%
F
63
Wakefern Food Corp.
(ShopRite, Price Rite, The Fresh Grocer)
-33.33%
F
64
Ahold Delhaize
(Food Lion, Hannaford, Giant, Peapod, Stop & Shop)
-35.71%
F
64
Smart & Final
-35.71%
F
65
Pizza Hut
-36.67%
F
66
Arby’s
-38.1%
F
66
Bob Evans Restaurants
-38.1%
F
66
Buffalo Wild Wings
-38.1%
F
66
Chick-fil-A
-38.1%
F
66
Domino’s Pizza
-38.1%
F
66
SuperValu Inc.
-38.1%
F
66
Waffle House
-38.1%
F
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