The decision will mean the need to look for alternative production methods which will force the egg industry into its biggest change since the introduction of enriched cages in 2012; a move which then cost farmers in excess of £400m.
Commitments on eggs:
Retailer | Position updated April 2019 | Alternative system? |
|---|---|---|
Co-op | Stopped selling cage eggs in 2007 | 100% free range both shell and home brand ingredients |
M&S | Stopped selling cage eggs in 1997 | 100% free range both shell and home brand ingredients |
Sainsburys | Stopped selling cage eggs in 2009 | Free range and RSPCA barn egg |
Waitrose | Stopped selling cage eggs in 2007 | 100% free range both shell and home brand ingredients |
Aldi | Committed to moving 100% of fresh eggs to cage-free hens by 2025 | TBC, possibly free range |
Tesco | To stop sourcing eggs from caged hens by 2025 | Multi-tier barn, free range and organic |
Iceland | To end the sale of eggs from caged hens by 2025 | Barn and free range |
Morrisons | Shell eggs will be from cage-free systems by 2022. All eggs used in own brand products will be from cage free systems by 2025. | TBC |
Sodexo | To source only cage free eggs (both shell and liquid) worldwide by 2025 | TBC |
Asda | To end the sale of eggs from caged hens by 2025 | TBC |
Lidl | To phase out the sale of eggs from caged hens in UK stores by 2025. This commitment covers both shell eggs and eggs used as an ingredient in Lidl products. Lidl are committed to reporting progress annually. |
TBC |
Spar | To end sale of eggs from caged hens by 2025 | TBC |
Booker (who own Londis, Premier and Budgens) | To end sale of eggs from caged hens by 2025 | TBC |
Nisa | To end sale of eggs from caged hens by 2025 | TBC |
Compass | A commitment to source 100% cage free eggs (both shell and liquid) globally by 2025. | TBC |
Brakes (wholesale) | Moving to cage-free supply for both Brakes brand and supplier brand eggs by 2025, subject to available supply, affordability and customer demand. This will be for whole egg and egg products such as liquid egg. | TBC |
Bidfood | Move towards cage-free eggs by 2025. This includes branded and own label shell eggs, liquid egg and eggs as ingredients in own label products. | TBC |
Click here to see what will replace cage as the value egg in retail
The NFU been speaking to retailers about the following concerns:
- Planning: Producers need more details to be able to effectively plan and make the necessary changes to their businesses in the remaining nine-year timeframe up until 2025;
- Investment: As a result of the decision to go cage-free a significant number of the 15-million birds housed in enriched cage systems will need housing in alternative production systems such as barn and free range. This inevitably will involve significant investment by farmers as additional housing will be required. This will take time, with planning permission and other factors such as financing factored in;
- Clarity: What are the alternative production systems, how will the transition to cage free be implemented and over what timeframe?
More links:
- Read more about Food Chain meetings over the last few months
Food business sourcing guide - showing how well-known high street brands like McDonald’s, Wetherspoons and Greggs are sourcing their food: view it here