Ashley Chang
Peaceful protesters rallied last week outside HelloFresh’s corporate offices in New York City, urging the meal kit company to do what it promised to do when it adopted the Better Chicken Commitment: end its cruel factory farming practices.
Even as rain began to fall early Tuesday evening, activists gathered in non-violent protest at One Chase Manhattan Plaza in New York City, where meal kit company HelloFresh is headquartered on the tenth floor.
Protesters at at One Chase Manhattan Plaza in New York City, where meal kit company HelloFresh is headquartered on the tenth floor
Protesters at at One Chase Manhattan Plaza in New York City, where meal kit company HelloFresh is headquartered on the tenth floor
Protesters at at One Chase Manhattan Plaza in New York City, where meal kit company HelloFresh is headquartered on the tenth floor
A banner about HelloFresh and its empty promises about animal welfare
Why did protesters show up at HelloFresh?
Corporate greed is ravaging our food system. By publishing stronger animal welfare policies, companies like HelloFresh are making critical progress.
But words alone won't end the suffering of animals. Only action will. When corporate commitments go unfulfilled, they lose their meaning, deceive consumers, and harm animals. Accountability matters.
That's why, this past week, more than 20 intrepid activists came together at HelloFresh's corporate offices in the Financial District of Manhattan to demand that HelloFresh share its plans to implement the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), the highest standard for broiler chicken welfare. Their signs, their banners, and their collective presence sent a powerful message to HelloFresh's leadership: We won't let you get away with this.
Protesters at at One Chase Manhattan Plaza in New York City, where meal kit company HelloFresh is headquartered on the tenth floor
Protesters at at One Chase Manhattan Plaza in New York City, where meal kit company HelloFresh is headquartered on the tenth floor
Protesters at at One Chase Manhattan Plaza in New York City, where meal kit company HelloFresh is headquartered on the tenth floor
Protesters at at One Chase Manhattan Plaza in New York City, where meal kit company HelloFresh is headquartered on the tenth floor
Animal welfare at HelloFresh
HelloFresh is falling behind on animal welfare. Although the company adopted the Better Chicken Commitment back in 2019, and recently clarified which of its chicken adheres to select BCC standards, HelloFresh is making very little progress on most elements of the BCC. On top of that, the company has not shared a roadmap detailing how it intends to meet its welfare goals by 2024—the timeline it set out for itself.
In short, HelloFresh refuses to share a meaningful plan for how it'll fulfill its own pledges on time. This lack of transparency means that HelloFresh is profiting—even as animals languish in its supply chain, and even as its own customers trust it to follow through on its promises.
What happened at the animal welfare protest at HelloFresh's headquarters?
The peaceful protest outside of HelloFresh's offices started in the plaza right beneath the building. Many of the changemakers held signs reading:
- Corporations need to be transparent
- What are they hiding?
- Hold companies accountable
Other advocates took to the streets, handing out postcards where passersby could learn more and take action.
Postcards about HelloFresh and its unacceptable animal welfare policies
A protester giving a postcard to a passerby that explains why HelloFresh is failing animals
The protest migrated down to the street level, where more cars and daily commuters could see what the demonstration was all about.
Protesters at at One Chase Manhattan Plaza in New York City, where meal kit company HelloFresh is headquartered on the tenth floor
Protesters at at One Chase Manhattan Plaza in New York City, where meal kit company HelloFresh is headquartered on the tenth floor
Protesters at at One Chase Manhattan Plaza in New York City, where meal kit company HelloFresh is headquartered on the tenth floor
Meanwhile, protesters engaged in compassionate dialogue with New Yorkers, sharing why they’d made the time to come out to rally against HelloFresh.
Protesters engage with a passerby on animal welfare issues
Peaceful protests send a powerful message to corporations like HelloFresh. Here are just a few of the caring advocates who showed up to let HelloFresh know it won’t get away with its lack of transparency on animal welfare:
Protester holds a sign that reads: What are they hiding?
Protester holds a sign that reads: Corporations need to be transparent
Protester holds a sign that reads: What are they hiding?
Protester holds a sign that reads: Hold corporations accountable, with an image of a factory farmed chicken raised for meat
Protester holds a sign that reads: Corporations need to be transparent
Protester holds a sign that reads: Hold corporations accountable, with an image of a factory farmed chicken raised for meat
Protester holds a sign that reads: Corporations need to be transparent
Protester holds a sign with an image of a factory farmed chicken raised for meat that reads: What are they hiding?
How can I help?
Getting involved with on-the-ground actions like protest is an incredible way to urge companies to do better for the animals in their supply chains. On top of that, digital actions—sending emails, replying to Tweets, leaving reviews on Google, to name just a few—are also extremely effective ways to make your voice heard. The project of transforming our food system is nothing if not a collective effort, and every contribution matters.
Animals continue to suffer on factory farms. Take action today to end their abuse.
