Animal Aid

The following coverage of our Focus campaign appeared in the City section of the Sun newspaper on Monday 1st May 2002.

Britain's biggest animal rights group is urging City investors to boycott the flotation of DIY chain Focus Wickes.

Animal Aid says Focus sells exotic fish mass-bred in factory farms overseas or taken from their natural habitat.

The activists have already persuaded the chain to stop selling reptiles, wild birds and mammals. Animal Aid director Andrew Tyler said the production, capture and transport of fish led to a great deal of disease and death. He told Sun City:

"The particular problem with the sale of animals by Focus is that the glossy environment encourages impulse buys, leading to more irresponsible purchases and much additional suffering. All the evidence points to fish being capable of suffering stress and pain."

Focus Wickes shares will be limited to big City investors at this summer's float. Mr Tyler said the cruelty campaign, which has included in-store demonstrations, would continue until all animal sales stop. He said the company had a duty to tell investors of the battle in its prospectus.

Sun City reported yesterday that Focus Wickes chairman Bill Archer's stake would be valued at £300million in the flotation.

Action

• Support Animal Aid's campaigns - get active!
• Find out more about the Focus campaign.