Poultry processing
Australia's second largest poultry producer (after Baiada). It was wholly-owned by Bob Ingham, son of the company's founder Walter Ingham, until March 2013, when it was sold to TPG Capital. Floated on the ASX in Nov 2016. Acquired New Zealand organic chicken supplier Bostock Brothers in 2024.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Aug 2024)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Inghams Group Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
3/5 for packaging performance
This company received a packaging performance level of 3 (Advanced) in its 2024 APCO Annual Report. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice).
Source: APCO
(2024)
FAIRR Protein Producer Index
The Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index is a comprehensive assessment of how this sector is managing critical sustainability risks factors: GHGs; deforestation and biodiversity; water scarcity; water pollution; antibiotics; animal welfare; working conditions; food safety. This company was rated as high risk.
Source: FAIRR
(2022)
18/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 18/100 in the Food Products category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 23 Sep 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global
(2022)
4/20 in Social Benchmark
The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2023 and received a score of 4/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
Factory Farming
This company produces factory farmed chicken meat. Broiler chickens can legally be confined at a density that gives each bird less space than an single A4 sheet of paper. Every year in Australia 550 million chickens endure short and unnatural lives inside factory farms. This approach is fundamentally at odds with chicken welfare.
Source: Animals Australia
(2019)
16.3% in Food and Agriculture Benchmark
The 2023 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #172/350, with a total score of 16.3/100.
11% in Nature Benchmark
The Nature Benchmark ranks 816 companies across 20 industries on their efforts to protect our environment and its biodiversity. Companies were assessed in three phases between 2022 and 2024 using three measurement areas: governance and strategy; social inclusion and community impact; and ecosystems and biodiversity. This company was assessed in 2023 and is ranked #512/816, with a total score of 11/100.
Water pollution in NSW
This company entered into an enforceable undertaking with the NSW Environment Protection Authority in March 2015 to provide $79,800 to a Lake Macquarie City Council initiative to improve water quality in MacNamarra Creek. The enforceable undertaking is in response to a pollution incident that occurred in May 2014, where poultry blood from the Inghams poultry abattoir at Cardiff was accidently discharged into a stormwater drain and impacted on the nearby Winding Creek.
Breaching advertising codes
Inghams has been criticised for trivialising an important public health issue. In 2007 Ad Standards upheld complaints with regards to a billboard ad for chicken during Breast Awareness Week on the grounds it was in poor taste and breached advertising codes. Inghams subsequently discontinued the ads.
Source: Ad Standards
(2007)
Animal cruelty
In March 2013 ABC's Lateline showed video footage obtained by Animal Liberation of workers apparently bashing and kicking turkeys at an Inghams poultry processing plant on the outskirts of Sydney.
Source: ABC Lateline
(2013)
Political donations
According to the democracyforsale.net website, this company donated $500,000 to Australia's major political parties between 2012 and 2018, as disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commision (AEC).
Source: Democracy For Sale
(2018)
Organic products
This company manufactures or distributes products that are certified organic under the Australian Certified Organic label.
Source: ACO
(2022)
Climate action commitments
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target.
Source: We Mean Business
(2021)
RSPCA Approved
This company sources RSPCA Approved chicken for a small percentage of their total chicken meat production. RSPCA Approved farms raise their birds in an enriched barn environment. Chickens enjoy space to move, good lighting and can perch, dustbathe and forage.
Source: RSPCA Australia
(2022)
Sustainable Agriculture Initiative member
This company is a member of the Australian chapter of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, the main food industry initiative supporting the development of sustainable agriculture worldwide. Created by Nestle, Unilever and Danone in 2002, the SAI Platform is a non-profit organization to facilitate sharing, at precompetitive level, of knowledge and initiatives to support the development and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices involving the different stakeholders of the food chain.
Source: SAI Platform Australia
(2023)
Sustainability claims
This company has a number of sustainability claims on its website in the areas of water stewardship, environmental management, reductions in waste and energy usage, and community support.
Source: company website
(2015)
Modern Slavery statement
California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
Source: company website
(2019)
Modern Slavery disclosure quality
Modern slavery disclosure is a critical step in mitigating the risk associated with modern slavery practices in companies' operations and supply chains. The quality of the disclosure signals the level of commitments and efforts that the companies have put in managing these risks. In 2021 the Monash Centre for Financial Studies analysed and ranked the disclosure quality of the modern slavery statements submitted by the 300 largest listed companies on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX300). This company's modern slavery disclosure statement received a grade of D.
Source: Monash University
(2021)
Farm Transparency Project profile
The Farm Transparency Project Repository is a public repository/gallery for videos, photos, documents and campaign materials relating to the animal rights movement in Australia. Follow the link to see their profile on this company.
Source: Farm Transparency Project
(2022)
Company Details
Type:
Public company
Revenue:
2.5 billion AUD
(2019)
Employees:
6,800
(2019)
Contact Details
Address:
1 Julius Ave, North Ryde, NSW, 2113, Australia
Phone:
02 9826 4444
Website: