Eggs

Lidl has changed its cage-free egg commitment to come in line with the rest of the major multiples.

The retailer, which announced it would be phasing out caged eggs last month, has adapted the deadline of its pledge from 2025 onwards to before 2025; the same as recent commitments made by Asda, Morrisons, Tesco and Aldi.

Lidl told The Grocer it had reviewed its position and decided to align with the rest of the market and all other UK supermarkets.

“Lidl has been monitoring the market closely and has continually reviewed its position to selling eggs from caged-free hens,” said a Lidl spokeswoman.

“After careful consideration, Lidl is pleased to announce that it has refined its commitment to stop selling eggs from caged hens by 2025. This builds on the commitment announced on Friday 29 July, and aligns with all other major retailers in the UK.”

Convenience retailer Spar has also announced its decision to join the multiples and phase out eggs from caged hens in enriched colonies by 2025.

Sainsbury’s, the Co-op, M&S and Waitrose already only sell eggs from free-range or barn-housed hens.

The switch has been welcomed by animal welfare campaigners, and follows the banning of battery cages in the UK in 2012. However, some egg producers have raised concerns it could heap further costs on a sector still struggling to pay off its £400m investment to convert from battery cages to enriched colonies.

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