Wakefern, Ingles Markets to transition to cage-free eggs

In an April 1 online letter to its customers, Wakefern Food Corp., Keasbey, N.J., said it and its retail cooperative members trading under the ShopRite, Price Rite and The Fresh Grocer banners have committed to sourcing 100 percent cage-free private label eggs, based on available supply, by 2025.

"We made this decision after careful consideration of the facts around cage-free egg production and in conjunction with our current animal welfare policies and our desire to ensure our customers can choose the products they need and want for their families," Wakefern said.

Wakefern also noted that an animal rights activist group has waged a public campaign against the company in regard to its egg sourcing practices.

"They have threatened to continue their negative messaging until we make a public statement to source only 100 percent cage-free eggs throughout the store," the company said. "On the surface, this may sound like a worthy goal, but the move to cage-free is not without concern and controversy."

For example, egg producers are concerned over increased mortality rates for hens in cage-free environments as a result of hen aggression, Wakefern said.

"It would be easy for us to give in to the demands of these groups, but we want to ensure we examine all the facts," the company added. "We are moving toward our goal, but before we make a commitment beyond private label, we will continue our research and strive to stay open to industry enhancements and contemporary animal welfare standards as well as the science behind them."

Meanwhile, Asheville, N.C.-based Ingles Markets Inc. announced on April 4 that it will support the industry-wide transition to cage-free hen housing by shifting its own egg sales to cage-free. Under the company’s new plan, Ingles’ goal is to have 100 percent of both the shell and liquid eggs it sells come from cage-free hens by 2025.

“Ingles supports the industry’s cage-free trajectory, and looks forward to working with our suppliers to achieve a cage-free supply chain,” said Ron Freeman, Ingles’ chief financial officer. “This shift represents a natural part of Ingles’ ongoing work to ensure animals in our supply chain are provided with the ‘Five Freedoms’ of animal welfare, including the ability to engage in their natural behaviors.”