UK companies are leading the way on cage-free eggs, where around 75% of the UK market is already cage-free, a new report from Compassion in World Farming has found.
The new Egg Track report has revealed that of 40 companies included in its UK Spotlight, 19 counted as ‘leaders’, already 100% cage-free.
These included Waitrose, M&S, Sainsbury’s, the Co-op, Greggs, McDonald’s and Pizza Express.
Seven companies were recorded as ‘in progress’, meaning they are on track to reach 100% by 2025, including Tesco and Whitbread.
Meanwhile, Asda and Lidl are among the 11 companies at risk of missing the 2025 deadline and three companies have a commitment but are not reporting or have regressed on their progress.
These so-called ‘laggards’ are One Stop, Greene King and Spar (UK).
In France, where 70% of the market is already cage-free, 10 companies are recognised as leaders including Danone Group, Pret a Manger and McDonald’s France, while nine are in progress, including Aldi France, Groupe Casino and LDC.
At the same time, 12 are listed ‘at risk’ and nine as laggards.
Elsewhere in Europe, Italy is at 66% cage-free, Poland at 30% and Spain at 33%.
CIWF has been joined by some of the UK’s largest food companies in sending a letter to the Defra minister Steve Reed, supporting a move to ban the installation of new cage systems immediately and to phase out all existing cage systems for egg-laying hens by the end of the current Parliament.
Signatories include Waitrose, Greggs, Co-op, M&S, Morrisons, Aldi, Big Table Group and Mitchells & Butlers.
“The UK EggTrack ‘Spotlight’ clearly highlights which businesses are on track to meet next year’s cage-free deadline, and those that are falling behind,” said Dr Tracey Jones, global director of food business at CIWF. “Twenty-six companies have either met or are making progress toward achieving their commitments, whilst 14 are at risk of missing the deadline.”
“To get hens out of cages, the UK government must step up and enact legislation that supports market transition and drives the change needed for all food companies to only source and sell cage-free eggs and ends the production of caged eggs in the UK once and for all,” she added.
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