CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Harris Teeter has announced it will begin giving purchasing preference to poultry suppliers that use controlled-atmosphere slaughter systems, purchasing 2% of its turkeys from suppliers that employ this method beginning this fall, and increasing its purchases of chicken from suppliers that use controlled atmosphere systems by 5% each year for the next three years, according to a release issued yesterday by Norfolk, Va.-based animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The Southeastern chain will also increase the volume of pork purchased from suppliers that are phasing out the use of gestation crates at their facilities by 10% in 2009; 15% in 2010; and 20% in 2011. In addition, the company announced plans to launch a new line of Harris Teeter-brand cage-free eggs, and to increase the amount of cage-free eggs it sells from 6% to 9% by 2009, and work toward increasing that amount to 12% by 2010. PETA’s release praised the plans, describing the move as “groundbreaking.” Safeway announced similar plans just days ago, following discussions with the Humane Society of the United States.
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