This paper attempts to describe the market for welfare-friendly foodstuffs within larger retailing trends in six study countries in Europe (Norway, Sweden, Italy, France, the Netherlands and the UK). This is based on the findings to date from the work carried out by the work package 1.2 whose aims are to study the current and potential market for welfare-friendly foodstuffs. The aims of the current empirical stages of work package 1.2 are focussed on – what do retailers communicate to consumers about animal welfare? How is animal welfare framed? Are welfare-claims used on their own or within broader issues of quality