As a local business deeply rooted in the heart of Alberta, we’re proud to support local suppliers, ranchers and farmers who are committed to providing the best quality, locally raised beef, chicken, pork and eggs. They take pride in what you take home to put on your table.  This commitment starts with healthy animals, humanely raised and handled. These industries continue to make improvements in the areas of animal welfare, and we’re proud to stand beside our partners in an ongoing effort to provide the best for our animals, our environment and your kitchen table.

All of the suppliers we work with, and the ranchers and producers they support, follow stringent regulations related to the care and handling of animals, conduct third-party audits to ensure compliance and are continuously advancing animal welfare practices in their respective areas.

Alberta is cattle country, and we’re proud to bring the best Alberta Beef to our customers through our Only Alberta Beef label.

  • Our local beef supplier adheres to proper and humane handling best practices and regulatory requirements knowing that good animal handling practices are ethically appropriate and economically important resulting in sound animals and better final products.
  • Our local beef supplier is committed to meeting or exceeding the standards set in the Federal Humane Slaughter Act and other industry standards, and have established an Animal Welfare program that meets the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) guidelines, with daily audits to verify conformance. As well, they follow industry best management practice guidelines though the National Farm Animal Care Council for the care and handling of Cattle.
  • All livestock destined and received for slaughter in their facilities are protected under this policy and are treated humanely and with respect.
  • Livestock transporters are also compliant with industry best practices (NCBA BQA-Transportation Certification or Canadian Livestock Transportation.
  • Our supplier works in full cooperation with USDA and CFIA to ensure they are in compliance with all applicable regulations regarding the humane treatment and proper disposition of non-ambulatory livestock should they become disabled after antemortem inspection.
  • Daily in-person, and regular third-party audits are conducted to ensure continuous improvement of their process, for incorporation of regulatory changes, performance trends, and improvement opportunities that arise during discussion in Animal Welfare Team meetings.

At Calgary Co-op, we offer only the highest quality 100% Western Canadian Pork to our customers. The Canadian Pork Commitment ensures premium pork quality through the Verified Canadian Pork™ program, which emphasizes food safety, responsible animal care, and traceability.

  • All pigs raised for meat in Canada are housed in open pens and are 100% gestation crate free.
  • Verified Canadian Pork is raised without added growth hormones and is among the top global pork exporters. The industry adheres to high standards, from grain-fed hogs to the final product, delivering consistent excellence both in Canada and internationally.
  • Our local pork supplier has also moved their sows (mother pigs) out of confining gestation crates to open housing systems where they are free to roam, feed and socialize.
  • Our supplier’s plants and sites are designed to work with – not against – an animal’s natural instincts. Their teams are trained in low-stress animal handling practices championed by leading animal care expert Temple Grandin, Ph.D., a member of their Animal Care Advisory Council.
  • Pigs in our supplier’s barns enjoy carefully selected toys called enrichments to encourage them to play and to improve their well-being.
  • Verified Canadian Pork™ processors are federally inspected processing plants that maintain the highest standards for freshness, quality and food safety based on Canada’s Meat Inspection Act under federal law.

We work with a variety of Alberta Chicken suppliers and farmers to provide a selection of locally raised and cared for chickens to our customers. All of our suppliers are committed to the principles of sustainability and animal welfare.

  • Our Only Alberta Chicken brand features chickens that are 100% free run, raised without hormones and grain fed.
  • All of our broiler chickens are 100% cage-free.
  • Our suppliers continually explore new technologies and research to contribute to science-based animal welfare codes of conduct and to enhance bird well-being.
  • All our suppliers undergo regular third-party and internal audits to ensure they are following guidelines established by the Government of Canada to meet or exceed standards.
  • Space for comfort and freedom: in 2024, 67% of the broilers that directly supplied one of our main supplier’s primary processing operations were housed at 31 kg/m2 or less, meaning each barn maintained a maximum density of 31 kilograms of chickens per square metre of barn floor space.
  • Healthy lighting and litter: our suppliers monitor bird litter and air quality, and provide lighting programs designed to simulate the natural light and dark conditions chickens would experience outdoors.
  • Barn enrichments: our suppliers provide barn enrichments to support natural behaviours.
  • Our main suppliers have teams of trained Animal Health and Welfare Technicians work closely with their hatcheries, farmers, catchers, and transporters to support best practices in broiler operations.

We believe in providing our customers with a choice in egg types and price. Calgary Co-op works with local suppliers who provide a variety of Canadian farmed eggs based on cost, housing type, nutrition and other factors, including free run, free range, regular white and brown, vitamin-enhanced and organic.

  • Calgary Co-op supports Canadian egg farmers who prioritize the health and wellness of their hens. All Canadian egg farmers adhere to the national Animal Care Program, which reflects rigorous standards in animal care, based on the code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pullets and Laying Hens, developed in collaboration with animal welfare experts, scientists, veterinarians and government and industry representatives.
  • Egg Farmers are held accountable by third-party audits which ensure standards are applied consistently across the country.
  • All Canadian egg farmers are committed to moving exclusively to cage free eggs and enriched housing by 2036.
  • Nearly half of all Canadian egg farmers have transitioned to enriched housing egg farms. Enriched housing provides the laying hens the ability to express important natural behaviors, such as perching and foraging, while keeping them safe from predation and minimizing health risks.
  • Calgary Co-op is following Canadian industry standards of transitioning to eggs from enriched and cage free housing by 2036.