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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.  

24 Nov 2025

Red Tractor remembers leading pig farmer Rob Beckett

The British pig sector is paying tribute to Rob Beckett, a highly respected figure and visionary leader, who has been posthumously awarded with the prestigious David Black Award for his outstanding and lasting impact in the industry.

Rob’s career began on his family farm is South Shropshire, which led to his role leading Yorkwold Pigpro Ltd. His clear vision, “to strive not to be the biggest, but to be the best and to put quality first,” guided the business through significant expansion and rationalisation, ultimately nearly doubling the sow herd over 25 years. This commitment to quality was the foundation of Yorkwold’s celebrated, long-term partnership with Morrisons, evidenced by the sale of the two-millionth pig to the retailer last year.

A passionate advocate for the pig sector

Beyond his success at Yorkwold, Rob was a tireless advocate for industry-wide improvement. His service of six years to the Red Tractor Pigs Sector Board was instrumental, where he consistently provided the insight and expertise necessary to drive positive change and ensure high standards of animal welfare and sustainability were met across the sector.

A colleague spoke highly of Rob, saying: “In each role, he provided insight and expertise to drive change and improvement – always challenging but constructive, always professional, always a gentleman.”

Dedication to high standards

Rob’s dedication to high standards was mirrored by his commitment to his staff. He was a firm believer that high standards of animal care could only be achieved through implementing high standards of people care. He invested heavily in training and mentoring for those who worked for him.

Rob’s wider contributions to the farming industry included serving on the Pig Health and Welfare Council’s Welfare Committee and his leadership as Chairman of Thames Valley Cambac, where he guided the merger that created the United Pig Co-operative, strengthening the independent producer base across the country.

A true supporter of Red Tractor

Stewart Houston, Chair of the Pigs Sector Board, remembers how “Rob embodied the ethos of the Red Tractor Pigs Board and was a true supporter of what Red Tractor was all about. He was respected for his strong views and informed argument and continued to contribute virtually when his treatment made his ability to travel too difficult. Towards the end, we shared each other’s experience of the terrible disease that took him from us, but which he dealt with in the same pragmatic way that we tussled with some of the industry’s more challenging problems. We miss him!”

21 Nov 2025

Fresh Produce Sector Board Update – November 2025

Dear Member, 

It has been an honour to chair the Fresh Produce Sector Board, and I want to begin by thanking everyone for their professionalism and commitment since I joined Red Tractor in 2018. It’s been my privilege to be part of the Red Tractor team.  

I’m very pleased to welcome Veryan Bliss as my successor. She will make an excellent Chair for Fresh Produce. We are also planning board changes following Damon Johnson’s departure as the BRC representative and Sarah Blanford’s move from Sainsbury’s. We will confirm arrangements for those roles as part of the next meeting update. 

We’ve had a mixed season across the sector, with high yields and quality in some crops and challenging conditions in other, mainly driven by the lack of rainfall, and there are many encouraging technical developments across the sector. We recognise real pressures for the industry; labour availability and cost, pest and disease pressures and variable regional conditions that mean conditions remain tough for many growers. 

Our sector is responding to these challenges with innovation. The Board discussed developments in robotics, which are showing real promise as a solution to long‑term labour shortages and for improving productivity, and incoming legislation around Precision Bred Organisms (PBOs). We must make sure our standards are ready for these technologies and that any potential food safety risks are addressed in design and guidance.  

On standards and strategy, Red Tractor has been engaging with other assurance schemes and stakeholders, and we will keep pushing for practical outcomes that protect food safety and market access while seeking better value for growers. Our sector strategy will be a live document, reviewed annually to track progress, and we agreed to frame the strategy around farm‑based activities to reflect the breadth of our work. 

A key technical priority is enhancing food safety in leafy salads. Chaired by Barbara Bray MBE, the Technical Advisory Committee is working on a proposed food safety module for leafy salad growers, which we expect to pilot in 2026. We are also developing a more streamlined assessment approach (which will initially be trialled with vining pea growers) by assessing common documents at a Producer Organisation level rather than on every individual farm – a change intended to reduce duplication, streamline assessments, and ensure the day on-farm is more focused on practical application of standards. 

Communications remain central to what we do. Our “With you for 25 Years” consumer campaign is live and designed to reinforce the value of the Red Tractor logo at shelf and online. We also continue to invest in farmer‑facing communications: since April we have attended more than 60 farmer events and engaged over 1,000 stakeholders face‑to‑face, and we have appointed Pinstone as our farmer‑facing agency to help demonstrate value to growers and rebuild trust. 

Finally, thank you again for your engagement and constructive challenge. As the sector evolves we will keep food safety as our core priority while ensuring our standards and programmes support innovation, protect market access and demonstrate clear value to growers. I encourage you to continue sharing your experience and feedback – it directly shapes the work we take forward. 

Best Wishes, 

Lucy MacLennan

Chair, Red Tractor Fresh Produce Sector Board 

 

Red Tractor Fresh Produce Board:

  • Sarah Blanford – Retailer
  • Veryan Bliss – Technical Consultant
  • Tim Casey – Grower and NFU
  • Jan Redpath – Grower and NFUS
  • Damon Johnson – Retailer, BRC
  • James Lee – Agronomist
  • Phil Pearson – Grower
  • Kelly Shields – Fresh Produce Consortium
  • Stephen Shields – Grower and NFU
  • Barbara Bray MBE – Independent Consultant
  • Andrew McHardy – Retailer

Recent Stories…

Recent stories
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
Combinable Crops & Sugar Beet Sector Board Update – November 2025

21 Nov 2025

Combinable Crops & Sugar Beet Sector Board Update – November 2025

Dear Members 

It was a privilege to chair my first in-person meeting of the Crops & Sugar Beet Sector Board. I began by paying tribute to Kit Papworth for his outstanding contribution to our sector and by thanking our outgoing CEO Jim Moseley for 50 years of service to food and farming as he retires. Both have given so much to Red Tractor and to the wider food industry. 

I reflected on taking the Board out to a working farm to observe a mock Red Tractor assessment at Will Oliver’s Osbaston House Farm, near Nuneaton. This was an invaluable opportunity to see how our standards are applied in practice and to appreciate the experience from both the assessors’ and the growers’ perspective. The visit also provided a hands-on understanding of the Red Tractor member portal, reinforcing how digital tools support compliance and transparency. This practical insight will help inform our strategic decisions and ensure our standards remain robust, relevant and workable on the ground. Many thanks to Will for hosting a fantastic day, which helped representatives from across the supply chain step into each other’s shoes. 

We have entered a period of significant change. The Farm Assurance Review (FAR) has set a demanding agenda for the Red Tractor Combinable Crops & Sugar Beet Sector Board and for everyone across the supply chain. I am committed to ensuring our responses are evidence-led, pragmatic and focused on protecting food safety, market access and the value we deliver to farmers. 

Delivering improvements 

The Farm Assurance Review (FAR) first monitoring report by David Llewellyn has now been published and we expect the final monitoring report April 2026. The FAR highlights the potential benefits of closer collaboration between assurance schemes. Red Tractor has engaged with other schemes and will continue to press for constructive, practical outcomes that improve value for farmers while maintaining robust standards.  

Within our sector, we have established key workstreams for discussing and delivering potential improvements: segregation; audit cycle frequency; risk‑based assurance; and a comprehensive review of standards. These will form the foundation of our forthcoming Sector Strategy, a working document which outlines the priority areas for improvement in the sector, developed through collaboration with all Crop Sector Board members. 

We also discussed both the HSE’s pesticide store inspections as well as the Environment Agency’s (EA) increasing number of on‑farm inspections. This has created confusion and frustration among members on the differences between EA inspections and Red Tractor assessments, which cover some but not all environmental legislation. I will seek further direct engagement with the EA and encourage colleagues across the supply chain to do the same so we can press for fair and consistent approaches in England. 

Engaging with members 

On communications, Red Tractor’s new “With you for 25 Years” consumer marketing campaign is now live. It is funded from licence fees rather than farmer royalties and uses a mix of channels and PR activity to raise awareness of Red Tractor and the value of buying British. We also continue to invest in farmer-facing communications: since April we have attended more than 60 farmer events, met over 1,000 farming stakeholders face‑to‑face, and appointed a new agricultural communication agency to boost our farming engagement. 

I recognise that this is a time of uncertainty for many of you. Our guiding principles in this sector are clear: protect food safety, preserve market access and deliver demonstrable value to farmers. We will make decisions that are evidence-led, risk‑based and that put the interests of members at the centre. Please look out for the Sector Strategy when it is published and share your feedback — your input is essential.  

Best Wishes, 

Julian Sturdy 

Red Tractor Combinable Crops & Sugar Beet Sector Chair 

Red Tractor Combinable Crops & Sugar Beet Board:

  • Angela Bowden – Oilseed Crushers
  • Jamie Burrows – Cereals grower
  • James Mills – Cereals grower
  • Matthew Culley – Cereals grower
  • Julian South – MAGB
  • Patrick Mitton – Pesticide Issues Consultant
  • Brin Hughes – BOBMA
  • Tom Wood – AIC/Grain Merchants
  • Peter Chandley – Weetabix
  • Sarah Woolford – AHDB
  • Nick Morris – Sugar manufacturer
  • Joe Brennan – UK Flour Millers
  • Gill Barrow – AIC/Schemes
  • John Scott – Sugar beet grower
  • Harriette Roberts – BRC

Recent Stories…

Recent stories
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
Combinable Crops & Sugar Beet Sector Board Update – November 2025

18 Nov 2025

Important new guidance on pig euthanasia

Red Tractor is updating its guidance to help clarify permitted methods of euthanasia on commercial pig farms. It follows recent high-profile cases where individuals on Red Tractor assured units have euthanised pigs, using methods that are not permitted, posing a serious risk to the industry’s reputation and to the individual member. Red Tractor therefore reviewed existing legislation and interpretations to produce this guidance.  

The guidance confirms that pig producers, on commercial pig farms, must only use permitted methods of euthanasia, and clarifies that any blunt force trauma, including if used for piglets, must be mechanical blunt force trauma – using a specifically designed device.  As such producers should have the necessary equipment, such as a Cash Small Animal Tool, available on farm with staff trained to use it, including for piglets under 5 kg.   Mechanical devices, where used for piglet euthanasia, must deliver a minimum of 27.7 joules (j) energy (as described in the manufacturer’s specification). 

A collective effort 

The new guidance was unanimously agreed by the Red Tractor Pigs Sector Board, including representatives from producers, the NPA, UFU, and PVS. It is intended to support compliance with legislation and remove ambiguity while also upholding the reputation of the industry.  

Stewart Houston, Chair of the Pig Sector Board, said: “The Red Tractor Standards provide producers with reassurance that their procedures are in line with expectations and in keeping with high standards of animal welfare. After reviewing recent interpretations of the complex legislation surrounding euthanasia, the Board acted unanimously and decisively to ensure this was reflected in the Red Tractor Pigs Standard.” 

Lizzie Wilson, Chief Executive of the National Pig Association, said: “Scrutiny of animal welfare practices within the pigs sector is increasing. As a result, many producers have already moved away from using non-mechanical blunt force trauma. NPA welcomes the addition of clear guidance to the Red Tractor Pig Standard, helping all assured pig producers to adopt practices that comply with the law.” 

Duncan Berkshire, Pig Veterinary Society, said: “The legislation surrounding euthanasia of pigs on commercial pig farms is complex and our understanding has evolved considerably over the last three years creating confusion across the sector. This guidance provides much needed clarity for producers, vets and other stakeholders.” 

The Red Tractor Pigs Sector Board will continue to work with NPA, PVS, UFU and other stakeholders to continue to review industry developments and our standards in the light of new developments. 

What has changed 

New guidance supports the existing standard, AH.9.1.b clarifying ‘permitted methods’ of euthanasia. It also requires that any use of a non-permitted method of euthanasia in an exceptional emergency must be recorded with accompanying written justification. 

What members need to know 

  • New guidance on euthanasia has been added to the Pigs Standards – the guidance provides clarity on permitted methods of euthanasia and reflects current interpretations of legislation 
  • The standards have not changed – The Red Tractor Pigs Standard has always required producers to use legally permitted methods of euthanasia. 

Find out more 

Red Tractor has published a Technical Briefing providing details of the new guidance and answers to frequently asked questions.  

10 Nov 2025

Pigs Sector Chair Update – November 2025

Dear Members,

Red Tractor’s Pigs Sector Board met on 5th November 2025 for a constructive meeting in which we discussed and tackled some important issues for the pigs sector. As always there were contributions from everyone in the room including producers, processors, the NPA and UFU, and our retailer representative. We were also joined by Duncan Berkshire from the Pig Veterinary Society (PVS).

Animal welfare exposes

The Board discussed the increasing pressure on the pigs industry created by animal welfare activists, and the risks of further media exposes.

It was agreed that Red Tractor has an important role in upholding standards in British pig production and the reputation of the industry. The Board agreed that compliance with Red Tractor standards is the best defence against exposes and welcomed the work that Red Tractor is doing with the NPA and others to raise awareness of the need for compliance.

Red Tractor staff explained the process for dealing with reports of mistreatment of animals, following a proportionate, fair and consistent approach, first investigating and then ensuring standards are upheld. In many cases Red Tractor is able to rule out animal welfare abuses. Between mid-August and mid-October there were 12 reports of animal welfare concerns involving pig producers – three have resulted in suspensions, one of which lasted less than 24 hours.

Red Tractor is working with certification bodies and others to ensure resources and processes are in place to respond as quickly as possible in a scenario of multiple simultaneous suspensions. The Board understands the damaging impacts that the suspension of Red Tractor certification can have on animal welfare and businesses. Red Tractor always aims to work with producers to lift suspensions as quickly as possible while ensuring the confidence of customers.

Manual blunt force trauma

Duncan Berkshire from PVS and Chair of the Pig Health and Welfare Council presented to the Pigs Board on the complex legislative landscape surrounding the use of manual blunt force trauma. Conflicts between primary and tertiary legislation, together with a change in Defra’s definition of ‘emergency’ euthanasia, are creating confusion amongst producers. Having examined the legislation, the Pigs Sector Board agreed that overall the legislation requires pig producers to use mechanical methods of euthanasia, except in exceptional emergencies.

The Board discussed the implications and the need for Red Tractor’s requirements to ensure standards keep pace with legislation. It also recognised, in the context of animal welfare exposes, the need for Red Tractor to play a role in upholding the reputation of the industry by moving away from manual blunt force trauma.

As a result, the Board unanimously agreed to include guidance on acceptable methods of euthanasia in Red Tractor’s pigs standards. More details on this guidance will be shared with pigs members as soon as possible.

Enhanced Welfare Outdoor Bred

The Board reviewed the communications plan and proposed labelling for the new Enhanced Welfare Outdoor Bred module to be introduced for the pigs sector at the request of industry. Further details will be communicated to all members and stakeholders in December, with the opportunity to transition to the module from 31 January 2026.

Alternative farrowing

Further to previous discussions on the need for an enhanced welfare offer for indoor bred pigs, and ongoing stakeholder and media interest in farrowing, the Board agreed that the Pigs Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) should develop options for an industry approach to more flexible farrowing.  A proposal will be presented at the next Sector Board meeting.

Sector Strategy

As part of Red Tractor’s commitment to tangible improvements for farmers, in 2026 TACs, Sector Boards and technical teams will review all farm standards. The Pigs Board has developed a strategy for the pigs sector which prioritises ensuring ongoing market access, enhanced welfare, reduced audit burden and builds a more connected community. As part of the longer-term strategy there was a positive discussion about how the Pigs Board can support the industry on environmental issues, in particular water pollution, working with AHDB and NPA. More details will be published in December with opportunities for stakeholder feedback.

25-years of Red Tractor

The meeting concluded with a round-up of Red Tractor’s marketing and PR campaign to raise awareness of the Red Tractor logo amongst shoppers. Communications included a collaboration with TV presenter, Angellica Bell.

As always, please do reach out to the Red Tractor team or a member of the Pigs Board if you have any questions on anything discussed during the meeting.

Kind Regards

Stewart Houston

Chair, Pigs Sector Board

Stewart Housten, Pigs Sector Chair

Members of the Pigs Sector Board

Stewart Houston – Chair

Grace O’Gorman – TAC Chair

Lizzie Wilson – NPA

Ash Gilman – Processor

William de Klein – Processor

Jack Davis – Retailer

Michael Putt – Pig Veterinary Society

Mark Haighton – AHDB Pork

Muhamed Maliki deputising for Heidi Decker Wojung – Processor

Pig Producer Reps (indoor and outdoor) – x 6 (including 1 x NPA rep and 1x UFU rep)*

*Names of producer reps are not published due to safety concerns

Recent Stories…

Recent stories
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
Combinable Crops & Sugar Beet Sector Board Update – November 2025

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

16 Oct 2025

How does Red Tractor protect the logo? 

Recognised by 75% UK shoppers, the Red Tractor logo assures consumers that the food they buy meets rigorous standards in food safety, animal welfare and traceability. To preserve this trust, Red Tractor enforces strict rules around logo usage and use of our claim terminology (“RT”, “RTA”, “RT Assured”, “Red Tractor”, “Red Tractor Assured”) to protect our brand integrity. 

Why logo protection matters: When consumers see the Red Tractor logo, they expect the product to be British, fully traceable and produced to high standards. Any misuse of the logo risks undermining this trust and the reputation of British farming. 

Trademark protection: The Red Tractor logos (Red Tractor©, Red Tractor Assured©, Red Tractor Assurance©, Red Tractor Certified Standards©) are registered trademarks, meaning only licensed and approved users may access and use them. 

All logo designs on product packaging and menus must be submitted for approval prior to printing to the Red Tractor Supply Chain Assurance Team to ensure accurate logo use by our licensees.

Enforcement and accountability:  As part of our Traceability Challenge Programme, Red Tractor actively monitors logo usage and terminology claims (e.g. “Red Tractor”) and takes enforcement action when necessary. Misuse of the logo whether intentional or accidental can result in sanctions for the licensee and negatively impacts Red Tractor’s reputation.

A shared responsibility: Every Red Tractor licensee plays a role in safeguarding the logo. By using it accurately, licensees reinforce the high standards that define British farming and maintain consumer confidence in assured food. 

Red Tractor’s Senior Licensing Manager, Joanna King explains the label is more than just a logo, it’s a symbol of trust, integrity and world-leading standards in British food production. 

Strict usage rules: 

British only: Only food businesses licensed by Red Tractor are able to use our logos and make a Red Tractor claim. Our licensees range from the smallest entrepreneurial food producers and the largest processors and packers to the most iconic British household brands and global food service providers.  

Must be licensed: All Red Tractor licensees must be technically approved to hold a licence. This approval is critical to our whole chain assurance approach, ensuring the British supply chain is meeting the standards required at each key stage in the process. 

Wide-ranging criteria: Red Tractor has robust criteria and terms & conditions in place, through our licensing process and our traceability challenge programme. 

These ensure that claims, including logo use, on products, websites, menus, marketing materials, paperwork and in any communication to promote Red Tractor products are accurate and are only made on or is association with eligible products.  

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