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08 Dec 2025

Red Tractor shares priorities for delivering improvements for farming sectors

Sector Boards initiate review of farm standards in 2026

Red Tractor has published priorities for delivering improvements in each farming sector. The priorities, developed by Red Tractor’s Sector Boards, will guide improvements to the scheme and mark an important step in the organisation’s ongoing commitments to greater transparency and delivering positive, tangible change for UK farmers and growers.

Chair of Red Tractor, Alistair Mackintosh, says: “By setting out these priorities, we’re giving stakeholders, including farmers and growers, a clear view of the direction of each travel in each farming sector and providing an early opportunity for feedback.”

A collaborative approach

The priorities have been developed and agreed collaboratively by representatives sitting on Red Tractor’s Sector Boards and include a review of farming standards in 2026. They sit alongside wider improvements already in progress including the Red Tractor portal, communications and assessor training.

All stakeholders are invited to share feedback by 1 February 2026 via the Red Tractor website.

Alistair Mackintosh, explains: “The collective focus of the review is to support reduction of unnecessary audit burden, delivering efficiency while maintaining rigour and ensuring that every audit point helps farmers to demonstrate due diligence or meet their customers’ expectations.”

Developed by Sector Boards

The priorities have been developed through Red Tractor’s established governance structure. The Red Tractor Board sets the organisation’s strategic direction, while each farming sector is represented by its own Sector Board made up of farmers, growers, vets, processors, retailers and supply-chain experts. 

Each Sector Board will continue to oversee the review process, using their collective knowledge to consider the specific needs and pressures facing their sector.

Mr Mackintosh explains that the next phase of work moves to the Technical Advisory Committees (TACs), which bring together experts from across each sector to develop detailed recommendations designed to deliver the priorities and objectives.   

“The TACs role is to explore options, test practicality and develop proposals that reflect both the objectives set by the Sector Boards and the realities of on-farm delivery,” he says.  

Greater transparency and clearer opportunities for feedback

“Farmers and growers have asked for greater transparency and clearer opportunities to have their say, and this is what we aim to achieve. 

“Feedback at this early stage will help shape the work that follows,” says Mr Mackintosh. 

Further opportunities to comment on draft standards will take place during 2026, before final, UKAS-accredited standards are published and implemented in 2027.

To learn about the priorities for each sector and to share feedback, visit redtractor.org.uk/improvements

Learn more and share feedback

01 Dec 2025

Red Tractor launches outdoor pigs standards with on-pack logos

Red Tractor is introducing two new modules to the Red Tractor Pigs Scheme – Enhanced Welfare Outdoor Bred and Free Range – accompanied by distinctive on-pack logos to help Red Tractor-assured pig producers and Red Tractor-licensed food businesses clearly communicate higher animal welfare inputs to shoppers.

Stewart Houston, Chair of the Red Tractor Pigs Sector, said: “These new standards will demonstrate welfare inputs that are a step above our already high core range. The new logos will provide consumers with greater choice on the shelf, while the standards sitting behind them provide outdoor producers a way of reducing their on-farm audits while maintaining access to existing markets.”

Building on the success of additional welfare modules

Developed by industry and subject to extensive consultation over the last 18 months, the new modules build on the success of Red Tractor’s additional welfare modules in the poultry sector. The modules have been benchmarked against existing market standards to ensure they reflect meaningful, recognised welfare standards while fitting within the practical realities of commercial pig production.

To benefit the whole supply chain

The changes are designed to benefit the whole supply chain. For producers, the modules specify standards for outdoor systems within the Red Tractor Pigs Scheme – giving outdoor pig producers a straightforward, trusted way to show the welfare enhancements they deliver. For food businesses who are Red Tractor licensees, the modular approach offers a cost-effective option to demonstrate higher welfare on pack, menus, websites, paperwork and marketing materials. This is particularly timely as many businesses begin to plan packaging updates in the coming months. For retailers, the new logos will help shoppers make quicker, more confident choices at point of purchase by providing a consistent, recognisable and trusted welfare message across pork and poultry.

Reducing audit duplication has been a central aim of this work. The new modules and on-pack logos are intended to streamline assurance activity for producers who currently participate in multiple schemes – a recommendation central to the Farm Assurance Review – and to improve efficiency throughout the supply chain.

A trusted route for better welfare

Stewart Houston, Chair of the Red Tractor Pigs Sector, said: “Producers have been clear that they want fair recognition for the additional time, investment and care that goes into higher-welfare systems. These now modules and logos do exactly that – they give farmers a practical, trusted route to demonstrate better welfare while helping retailers and consumers to recognise those commitments easily. We developed the standards with wide industry input and by benchmarking against established schemes, so producers, licensees, customers and consumers can have confidence in what these logos represent.”

Technical information

Read our Pigs Standards

Decision tree

FAQs

Click to read the answers.

For members

Contact your Certification Body to arrange this to be added to your existing Red Tractor membership.

Depending on where you are within your membership and assessment cycle will determine the correct next steps. Please contact your certification body to ensure they capture your wish to have enterprises added to your Red Tractor membership.

Red Tractor have transition arrangements in place that may mean your stock can enter the chain as Enhanced Welfare Outdoor Bred depending on the status of your RSPCA Assured certification. Please check the Red Tractor Transition Approval Decision tree to determine the correct step for yourself. Any questions can be directed to either your Certification Body or Red Tractor.

Please contact the team at Red Tractor to discuss this. We will look at the options you wish to ensure all parties are able to work within the requirements.

For licensees and food businesses

Only approved and licnesed companies can use our trademark wording or logos on product, paperwork, marketing materials, menus or websites and only then in accordance with the Licence Agreement. Please contact our Supply Chain Assurance team for more information: licensing@redtractor.org.uk

A licence fee is charged to food businesses when a Red Tractor product claim is being used. The licence fee for Enhanced Welfare Outdoor Bred and Free Range pork products is 0.1% of declared invoiced sales value (uncapped). As the most recognised, comprehensive and affordable assurance scheme in the marketplace vs other marques, Red Tractor is the best placed scheme to make Enhanced Welfare more accessible for consumers.  

If you are an approved and licensed company with Red Tractor, please get in touch with licensing@redtractor.org.uk to request our brand guidelines. Please include your licence number in all correspondence.

Yes, all logo use must be approved by our Supply Chain Assurance Team – please submit artwork prior to printing for approval and request logos from licensing@redtractor.org.uk. Please include your licence number in all correspondence.

If you are a current Red Tractor Processor Packer licensee, an additional technical approval will need to be completed for Enhanced Welfare Outdoor Bred or Free Range Pork. The technical information must be submitted and approved by Red Tractor before an Enhanced Welfare Outdoor Bred or Free Range claim can be made. You will be asked to enter details of your technical operations, suppliers (dependent on your type of business), products and customers as well as demonstrate that you meet our licensing eligibility criteria. 

If you are currently not a Red Tractor licensee and wish to onboard in order to make an Enhanced Welfare Outdoor Bred or Free Range pork claim, please contact the Supply Chain Assurance team at licensing@redtractor.org.uk who can discuss the process with you.  

10 Nov 2025

Backing British farming in the heart of London  

Monday 11th November

Yesterday we took to the streets of London to proudly back British farming!

Our team joined forces with the NFU (National Farmers’ Union), Surrey Docks Farm and The Worshipful Company of Farmers at the Lady Mayor’s Show — an iconic event that celebrates British heritage, community, and industry.

Marching through the capital, we helped shine a spotlight on the incredible work our British farmers do every single day, producing quality, safe, and fully traceable food that feeds our nation.

The energy from the crowds was electric! It’s always inspiring to see so many people come together to celebrate the people behind our food and to share the story of what the Red Tractor label truly stands for: trust, assurance, and British pride.

For our team, the show is more than just a parade; it’s one of the highlights of our year. It brings us together, reminds us why we do what we do, and reinforces how important it is to take our message beyond the farm gates and into the streets.

29 Oct 2025

Red Tractor responds to the first Farm Assurance Review monitoring report

Farm Assurance Review Monitoring and Reporting Commissioner David Llewellyn published his first monitoring report of the Farm Assurance Review on Monday 27 October.

Alistair Mackintosh, Chair of Red Tractor commented on the Farm Assurance Review monitoring report: 

“Today’s update from David Llewelyn highlights Red Tractor’s progress and our commitment to delivering tangible change for farmers. Since welcoming the recommendations in the review, Red Tractor has increased transparency around decision‑making, formalised the process for setting standards and delivered improvements to the Red Tractor portal. We’re also revamping our communications and exploring ways to reduce audit burden through technology and streamlining standards.

“This work focuses on delivering value and improving how assurance works for farmers, but it will take time. Farmer representatives on our Sector Boards have been involved at every stage, helping shape reforms that aim to deliver greater value to members. They are integral to Red Tractor, and I look forward to continuing to work with them and with stakeholders across the industry and supply chains through the upcoming standards review to ensure our requirements are robust, practical and meet consumer expectations.”

Find out more information about Red Tractor’s detailed progress against the Farm Assurance Review’s recommendations and how we set standards: 

27 Oct 2025

New Red Tractor chairs appointed to lead Fresh Produce and Poultry sectors  

Red Tractor is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Sector Chairs – Nick Major as Chair of the Poultry Sector Board and Veryan Bliss as Chair of the Fresh Produce Sector Board. Both will also join the Red Tractor Board of Directors and will play key roles in shaping the strategic direction of the organisation.  

Nick Major, Red Tractor Poultry Sector Chair

Nick brings extensive executive and non-executive board experience across the agricultural supply industry. He spent 38 years with international animal feed company ForFarmers in sales, marketing and general management roles, and as Corporate Affairs Director led the development and implementation of ForFarmers’ sustainability strategy.   

Commenting on his appointment, Nick Major said:

“Farmers are rightly proud of the very high animal welfare and production standards we operate to in the UK, as am I. I believe that maintaining the trust consumers place in Red Tractor is vital in improving the profitability and resilience of the entire food and farming sector and particularly poultry production, in the years ahead. I look forward to playing my part in shaping that future for Red Tractor and for the poultry sector.”  

Nick is a Senior Adviser at Wild Search and sat on the Centre for Innovation Excellence’s board prior to the merger with the UK Agri-Tech Centre. He has held numerous non‑executive, trustee and advisory roles, served as Chairman of the Agricultural Industries Confederation, chaired the Board of the Global Feed LCA Institute and is a former President of the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Farmers.  

Veryan Bliss, Red Tractor Fresh Produce Sector Chair

Veryan brings three decades of experience across the global fresh produce supply chain, with deep expertise in growing, packing, technical assurance, innovation and governance for the UK retail sector. For more than 20 years, she held senior leadership roles at Suncrop Produce, serving as both Commercial and Technical Director and Technical Director, where she oversaw technical and ESG responsibilities from farm to shelf, led commercial and operational developments, managed brand protection and fostered grower and retailer relationships. In 2022 she launched Food Intelligence Limited and continues to provide strategic leadership and advisory support across the sector.  

Commenting on her appointment, Veryan Bliss said:

“I chose to apply for the Fresh Produce Chair role because I care deeply about bridging the gap between growers, retailers, and consumers. It’s an opportunity to help shape assurance that is proportionate, progressive, and genuinely supportive of the people who produce our food. I see Red Tractor as a shared platform for trust and progress, and I wanted to help ensure it continues to work with growers to deliver assurance that genuinely adds value.”  

Veryan has served on the Red Tractor Fresh Produce Board since 2019 and holds several industry roles, including Non‑Executive Director of the Fresh Produce Consortium and The Andersons Centre, and Trustee of the East of England Agricultural Society. She has co‑chaired the Waitrose Agronomy Group, served on the John Lewis Partnership’s Leckford Estate Regenerative Agriculture Steering Group, and was elected as an industry representative to the Soil Association. Veryan is a committed mentor and thought leader, supporting Women in Agriculture and advising agri-tech companies at the intersection of technology and sustainability.  

Welcoming the appointments, Red Tractor Chair Alistair Macintosh said:

“We are delighted to welcome Nick and Veryan to their new roles. They bring complementary experience and deep sector knowledge that will strengthen Red Tractor’s ability to support producers and supply chains while maintaining the trust consumers place in our assurance. Their leadership will be invaluable as we continue to evolve our standards and deliver value for British farming and food.”  

Roles and recruitment

The Poultry and Fresh Produce Sector Boards represent the interests of producers, processors and retailers in their respective supply chains and are responsible for maintaining the integrity and relevance of Red Tractor standards. As Sector Chairs, Nick Major and Veryan Bliss will chair their sector boards and contribute to the Red Tractor Board’s work setting strategic priorities for the organisation.  

Both appointments followed an open recruitment process overseen by the Red Tractor Nominations Committee, with representatives from the relevant Sector Boards and in line with the Red Tractor Governance Handbook. The roles were widely advertised across industry channels and stakeholder networks.  

22 Oct 2025

Red Tractor launches ‘Recipes to Remember’ with TV’s Angellica Bell

Toad in the hole, corned beef hash, and bubble and squeak are among the classic kitchen British kitchen staples which have stood the test of time.

A poll of 2,000 adults revealed the top 30 nostalgic dishes people prepared in homes across the UK, including liver and onions (28 per cent), bread and butter pudding (33 per cent), and Welsh rarebit (26 per cent).

Other dishes making their way to the dinner table are home-made scotch eggs (24 per cent), suet dumplings (20 per cent), and Lancashire hot pot (19 per cent).

It also emerged 63 per cent confirmed the retro recipes they serve up to loved ones have been passed down to them through the generations, signifying the key role they still play in family mealtimes.

With 54 per cent learning them from their parents and 24 per cent from their grandparents.

In a bid to put traditional dishes to the test, children’s TV legend Angellica Bell teamed up with Red Tractor to host an intergenerational cook-off, featuring a selection of family recipes handed down through the generations.

Three families joined the Celebrity MasterChef winner and former CBBC presenter to recreate their favourite nostalgic dishes and explore why they are so important to them. 

Recipes included meatballs and spaghetti prepared by Nessie with her two daughters, Coco and Zaza, and son, Kaspar.

A hearty rhubarb crumble was created by Colette and her daughters, Amy and Chloe, and a delicious Chinese-style chicken noodle recipe was prepared by Tony and his son, Benjamin. 

The cook-along was planned by the food assurance scheme in honour of its 25-year anniversary, celebrating the hard work of British farmers and growers in meeting the high standards that ensure the safety and traceability of food produced in the UK.

Angellica Bell said: “I have great memories of cooking with my grandmother when I was a little girl and that’s why I believe spending quality time with loved ones in the kitchen is precious.

“It was fantastic to meet some amazing families and discuss the nostalgic dishes that have been handed down through generations in their households, hearing how important it is to them to keep those traditions alive.

“Creating recipes with ingredients that I know are safe, traceable, and British, was the perfect way to remind people about the importance of keeping this front of mind when shopping in supermarkets.”

Richard Cattell, spokesperson for Red Tractor, which has also created an interactive AI recipe generator tool to encourage budding chefs to create nostalgic recipes for their families said: “To mark this milestone anniversary we wanted to explore how nostalgia and cooking can really bring families together. 

“It was fascinating to find out which traditional British dishes have stood the test of time, as well as seeing the unique and personal touches families bring to those recipes in the modern day. 

“Angellica was the perfect host for the event – as well as it being 25 years since she first started as a children’s TV presenter, she is also passionate about cooking and encouraging children to get involved too. 

“We hope to inspire others to get together with loved ones and prepare their own nostalgic dishes.” 

The study found that over two thirds (68 per cent) of adults have used specific methods to try and keep traditional recipes alive.

For example, cooking their favourites at big family gatherings, writing recipes down in notebooks or cookbooks, or teaching their own children how to make nostalgic dishes.

Overall, 87 per cent agreed it’s important to keep traditional British recipes alive, according to the OnePoll.com data.

And it seems they are living up to this promise – with over a third (35 per cent) cooking classic dishes at least a few times every week.

A contributing factor to this may be the importance placed on buying British produce and supporting British farmers – 75 per cent confirmed they take this into account each time they shop for their family.

Richard Cattell added: “Nostalgic dishes may not be considered as trendy as they once were, but it doesn’t mean we should let important aspects of our heritage fade from the kitchen completely. 

“It’s heart warming and reassuring to see that so many families agree – and are keeping our nation’s favourite classic dishes alive by sharing recipes through the generations and creating lasting memories together in the kitchen.

“With a dash of nostalgia and a big dollop of comfort – we can keep homegrown produce and dishes at the heart of our family homes, ensuring the safety and traceability of ingredients while supporting British farmers.”

TOP 30 CLASSIC DISHES STILL BEING SERVED UP AT HOME

  1. Roast dinner (67 per cent)
  2. Spaghetti Bolognese (63 per cent)
  3. Bangers and mash (59 per cent)
  4. Fish and Chips (58 per cent)
  5. Cottage Pie (55 per cent)
  6. Shepherd’s Pie (52 per cent)
  7. Victoria Sponge Cake (45 per cent)
  8. Toad in the Hole (39 per cent)
  9. Bread and Butter Pudding (33 per cent)
  10. Corned Beef Hash (32 per cent)
  11. Ploughman’s Lunch (32 per cent)
  12. Rhubarb Crumble (32 per cent)
  13. Lemon Drizzle Cake (30 per cent)
  14. Bubble and Squeak (30 per cent)
  15. Liver and Onions (28 per cent)
  16. Welsh Rarebit (26 per cent)
  17. Scotch Eggs (24 per cent)
  18. Steak and Kidney Pie (21 per cent)
  19. Suet Dumplings (20 per cent)
  20. Eton Mess (19 per cent)
  21. Lancashire Hotpot (19 per cent)
  22. Treacle Sponge Pudding (17 per cent)
  23. Biryani (16 per cent)
  24. Jam Roly-Poly (16 per cent)
  25. Coronation Chicken (15 per cent)
  26. Cornish Pasty (traditional recipe) (15 per cent)
  27. Jollof rice (14 per cent)
  28. Pork pies (11 per cent)
  29. Spotted Dick (11 per cent)
  30. Oxtail Stew (10 per cent)

Watch the video to find out more!

Find out more

29 Sep 2025

Red Tractor CEO, Jim Moseley to retire

Red Tractor Chief Executive, Jim Moseley has announced that he will retire from full-time employment in April 2026.

“After 50 years in the food and drink industry, and 9 years as Chief Executive of Red Tractor, now is the right time for me to take a step-back to enable more personal time,” Jim Moseley said. “I will leave Red Tractor in a strong position to support the future of British food and farming, with a Board, a Leadership Team and tremendous employees who have the skills, knowledge, experience and dedication to carry Red Tractor forward.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the team at Red Tractor for their immense contribution and hard work. Assurance is not an easy occupation, but the team at Red Tractor deliver their roles with huge professionalism and extraordinary resilience. This team is one of the strongest I have had the pleasure of working with. Red Tractor’s recognition by the World Health Organisation as a ‘global exemplar of a voluntary assurance programme’ is testament to their abilities and the quality of the scheme.”

Alistair Mackintosh, Chair of Red Tractor said: “Jim has made an extraordinary contribution to Red Tractor and British food and farming. Consumer trust in British food is at record levels, as are the number of retailers, caterers and brands relying on Red Tractor assurance. The influence that Red Tractor has in securing markets and demand for British produce, should not be underestimated. Jim will leave an organisation which is highly motivated, financially sound and well governed. On behalf of Red Tractor’s Board of Directors, I’d like to thank Jim for his unrelenting support for British food production. I’m very grateful for Jim’s support as we continue to deliver real, tangible change for farmers, while recruiting a new Chief Executive.”

Watch an interview with Jim Moseley explaining his reasons for retirement

Jim Moseley explains his decision to retire from full time employment

Jim Moseley has worked in every aspect of food and drink, starting out in primary agriculture before moving into food manufacturing, responsible for some of the UK’s biggest food brands. He’s represented the industry at the highest level with governments and global bodies, as President of the Food and Drink Federation, Chair of the Provision Trade Federation, Member of Food Drink Europe and as an industry representative of various government groups including the Trade & Agriculture Commission. He became Chief Executive of Red Tractor in 2017, having previously served as its Chair for two years.

Jim will remain in post for the remainder of the 2025/26 financial year, enabling time for the recruitment of a new Chief Executive while Red Tractor continues to focus on its current priorities, including delivering the recommendations set out in the Farm Assurance Review. 

After retiring as Chief Executive of Red Tractor, Jim plans to focus on roles that will give him more time to focus on family and personal life. The process for recruiting a new Chief Executive will be shared in due course

22 Sep 2025

Shared Commitment, Shared Success: Red Tractor Backing Better Dairy Welfare

The latest review of the UK Dairy Cattle Welfare Strategy (2023–2028) shows real progress in cow health and wellbeing, driven by collaboration across the industry. The strategy sets six key goals: healthy feet, thriving cows, healthy udders, cow comfort, good nutrition, and positive welfare. Farmers, vets, researchers, processors, retailers, and assurance schemes are all contributing to these improvements.

Lameness, a costly but preventable problem, is being reduced through routine mobility scoring, while tighter control of Johne’s disease has nearly halved herd infection levels since 2015. Mastitis cases have fallen thanks to regular monitoring, and more cows are in good body condition with fewer lesions and swellings than a decade ago.

Red Tractor supports these efforts by translating welfare science into practical standards that can be applied on farm. With 98% of UK milk coming from Red Tractor-assured farms, this shared commitment is helping to drive real change. From mobility scoring at assessments to the adoption of the National Johne’s Management Plan (NJMP) into the standards, Red Tractor provides a consistent framework that ensures improvements are widespread rather than isolated.

As the strategy continues to 2028, farmers’ day-to-day dedication, backed by science-led innovation and practical standards, will remain central to future progress in cow welfare and sustainability. As Red Tractor evolves to meet changing industry demands we will look to see where our standards can support the strategy.

Jemma Holden, Red Tractor’s Dairy Technical Manager underlined Red Tractor’s role in bridging welfare science with practical standards. She said “Improving cow welfare is a shared commitment. Red Tractor’s role is to translate welfare science into practical, on-farm standards. By providing clear, consistent standards we’re helping the industry make meaningful, lasting progress in line with the Dairy Cattle Welfare Strategy. As industry demands evolve, we’ll continue to ensure our standards support that strategy.”

Find the 2025 review of progress report here: Dairy Cattle Welfare Strategy – A Review of Progress 2023-2025.

19 Sep 2025

Red Tractor labelled meat must be stunned before slaughter

All meat products carrying a Red Tractor logo or claim must be stunned before slaughter

Our requirements are clear and uncompromising. All livestock intended for Red Tractor labelled meat products, including those that are religiously slaughtered, must be effectively stunned before slaughter. This applies to every animal, without exception.

Animal welfare is at the heart of Red Tractor’s standards. We take our guidance from independent expert bodies including DEFRA, which sets the legislation on slaughter practices, and the Humane Slaughter Association, which publishes guidance and technical notes.

While some Red Tractor products may also carry additional labels such as Halal, organic, or other cultural or production claims, those schemes are managed by other organisations. What matters for shoppers is this: the Red Tractor logo will only appear on product which has met our criteria. Our criteria will always include the requirement that livestock is stunned before slaughter. Meat with a Red Tractor claim can be described as Halal too, but the animal must have been stunned prior to slaughter.

Our Traceability Challenge programme rigorously tests supply chains to ensure integrity from farm to pack. It means shoppers can have complete confidence that anything carrying the Red Tractor logo is exactly what it claims to be.

Recent Stories…

Recent stories
Red Tractor portal enhancements: smarter, more digital farm assurance
Red Tractor Board Update – November 2025
Red Tractor shares priorities for delivering improvements for farming sectors
Red Tractor launches outdoor pigs standards with on-pack logos
Red Tractor remembers leading pig farmer Rob Beckett
Fresh Produce Sector Board Update – November 2025

26 Aug 2025

Red Tractor Launches New TV Advert: ‘With You For 25 Years’

New advertising campaign celebrates 25 years of safe, British food

Red Tractor is celebrating 25 years since its launch with a new TV advertisement that spotlights the role of Red Tractor assurance in putting safe, traceable and responsibly produced food at the heart of family mealtimes. 

Its new ‘With You For 25 Years’ campaign highlights the everyday moments that matter most – families coming together around the kitchen table to share delicious food prepared with care.

With You For 25 Years

Thanks to the daily commitment of farmers and food businesses who uphold Red Tractor’s rigorous standards, consumer trust in UK-produced food is now at a high of 94%, a significant turn-around since the food safety crises of the 1990s. YouGov research also shows that over two thirds of shoppers recognise and trust the Red Tractor logo, seeing it as an independent source of assurance they can trust.  

Red Tractor’s Trust in Food Index recently revealed that British shoppers overwhelmingly value the reassurance of knowing where their food comes from and how it’s produced. 90% of people now want more food to be produced in the UK, and food assurance schemes are the number one reason Brits trust that UK food is safe and high quality, with trust in food assurance rising from 68% (2024) to 79% (2025).

This achievement is only possible thanks to the collaboration of the entire food and farming industry. Red Tractor was founded in 2000 by farming unions, food industry organisations and retailers, with a governance structure that ensures the distilled wisdom of the entire food chain is utilised and that there is an equitable balance of interests throughout its Boards and Committees.

John Pain, Board Director and Vice Chair of Red Tractor commented:

“At the core of the 25th anniversary celebrations is a sincere thank you to all Red Tractor partners – the farmers, processors, food outlets, retailers and brands who stand behind the Red Tractor logo.”

The next 25 years of standards

Natalie Smith, Tesco Head of Agriculture said:

“We’re proud to support British agriculture and the thousands of farmers and producers who provide us with quality, affordable, sustainable products year-round. Certification schemes play a key role in providing reassurance for customers, and over the past 25 years, Red Tractor has established itself as a mark of quality, standing for food safety standards, animal welfare and environmental protection.  

“We recognise there is still more to do, and it’s essential we continue to work in partnership with Red Tractor to improve standards, and take quick action to drive forward change, strengthening the farming industry for generations to come.”

In the coming weeks, Red Tractor will also go behind the scenes of real family kitchens to hear stories about what makes food and mealtimes so meaningful, with content to be featured across its social media channels.

Red Tractor’s new advert will be broadcast across on-demand video services and radio from August, and will launch across linear TV from October.  

Recent Stories…

Recent stories
Red Tractor portal enhancements: smarter, more digital farm assurance
Red Tractor Board Update – November 2025
Red Tractor shares priorities for delivering improvements for farming sectors
Red Tractor launches outdoor pigs standards with on-pack logos
Red Tractor remembers leading pig farmer Rob Beckett
Fresh Produce Sector Board Update – November 2025