The leading regional retailer scooped the Compassion in World Farming Good Egg Award at The House of Commons, alongside national organisations like John Lewis, Virgin Trains and Starbucks Coffee Company UK. Booths is the only UK food retailer to win the award this year.

Now in its third year, The Good Egg Awards have been developed by Compassion in World Farming, the leading farm animal welfare charity, to celebrate companies that have committed to freeing millions of hens from a life of suffering in battery cages.

Actress Penelope Keith, patron of Compassion in World Farming, Rosie Boycott, hairman of London Food and TV presenter Charlotte Uhlenbroek presented the awards. Other celebrities supporting the 2009 Good Egg Awards include Twiggy Lawson, Jo Brand, David Suchet and Paul O'Grady.

Booths' Food Buyer Phil Godwin, says: "We're really pleased to have been recognised among some the UK's leading businesses for our commitment to free-range, organic or barn kept hens. Booths wants to give their customers the assurance of the highest level of animal welfare, plus the knowledge they're getting the best tasting, locally sourced product."

Sales of free range and barn kept eggs made up 61% of the £700m. UK retail shell egg industry from August 2007 to August 2008.