Guzman y Gomez kicks off mission to #fixfastfood

Sarah Stowe

Mexican food franchise Guzman y Gomez has taken the first step in its mission to fix the fast food industry with the announcement that will affect all of its taquerias nationally. Find out what it has planned.

The taqueria franchise has now moved to 100 percent unprocessed, fresh, Australian free range chicken across all its Australian franchises. Free Range Egg and Poultry Australia (FREPA) accredited poultry meat will be served across all 74 taquerias in Australia.

This makes the franchise the first fast food player in the market to roll out unprocessed Australian free range chicken at scale. To gain FREPA accreditation, farmers and suppliers must uphold the highest standards of animal welfare.

“Everyone thinks fast food is bad food and that convenience and affordability comes at a cost. But we’re out to show the world this is just not true,” said Steven Marks, co-founder and managing director.

Changes to farming systems for other major proteins are also underway with Guzman y Gomez committing to being 100 percent sow stall free by October 2016 and its beef 100 percent grass fed and added hormone free by 2017.

“We’ve spent the last 10 years nailing the speed game — serving real, fresh food at fast food pace with no microwaves, and without cutting corners. And now that we’re big enough to create real change, we are proving it is possible to do all that and still act ethically as a business,” said Marks.

“We’re incredibly proud to be only serving Australian FREPA accredited free range chicken in all our taquerias.

“Moving to free range is no gimmick. It’s something we care deeply about and a decision we’re committed to. We hope others in the industry will join us, and help raise animal welfare standards across the whole fast food category,” he added.

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