Day 059 - 01 Dec 94 - Page 04

     
     1
     2   Q.   Was there a time when McDonald's had an interest in McKey
     3        Foods?
     4        A.  Yes, there was.
     5
     6   Q.   Was that during your time with the company?
     7        A.  Yes, it was.  McKey Foods started as a company two
     8        months after I joined McDonald's.  It was then a
     9        partnership with -- McKey comes from -- the "Mc" comes from
    10        McDonald's  and the "Key" comes from Keystone Foods of the
    11        United States.  It was a joint venture partnership which
    12        included a local partner, David Walker, who had a minority
    13        interest at that time, I believe it was 10 per cent.  Over
    14        the years he has bought the shares of McDonald's and
    15        Keystone Foods until I think it was four years ago he
    16        acquired all the shareholding of the company.
    17
    18   Q.   So in about 1990?
    19        A.  Yes.
    20
    Q.   I think this follows, Mr. Oakley, does McDonald's actually
    22        make any of the products which it sells?
    23        A.  No, not at all.
    24
    25   Q.   Within your remit do we find a responsibility for animal
    26        welfare?
    27        A.  Yes, within the Quality Assurance remit, yes.
    28
    29   Q.   That is within the Quality Assurance element of your
    30        responsibility.  Can I ask you this, does McDonald's have a
    31        position in relation to the welfare of the animals which
    32        are used to make its products?
    33        A.  Yes, we have an animal welfare statement.
    34
    35   Q.   I am going to ask you to look at that in a moment, but I
    36        would like you, if you can, before I do that just to say in
    37        outline what McDonald's actually is on this question?
    38        A.  Well, in outline, we will not purchase through our
    39        suppliers from any other third party supplier who does not
    40        conform to the codes of practice of this country or the
         industry standards of this country.
    42
    43   Q.   Why is that, Mr. Oakley, and why does McDonald's take that
    44        stance in relation to animal welfare?  What is the reason
    45        for that?
    46        A.  There are a number of reasons.  Hygiene would certainly
    47        be a reason, health and safety of our products would
    48        certainly be a reason, and we have through our Quality
    49        Assurance Department and our Quality Assurance Manager,
    50        Barbara Crawford, a very real feeling that animals should 
    51        be kept and slaughtered in the most humane way possible. 
    52 
    53   Q.   Can I ask you this because, no doubt, it may crop up later
    54        on in the case, is that merely a superficial response to
    55        public opinion?
    56        A.  No, it is not.  I have to say that Barbara Crawford has
    57        a real indepth feeling on the animal welfare issue, much
    58        more than you might expect her or ask her to have.
    59
    60   Q.   You are at the top of this particular tree within the