Compass Group Commits to Cage-Free Eggs in Global Supply Chain

19 Sep 2016 --- Compass Group have announced that it will source only cage-free eggs for its global liquid and shell egg supply chain by 2025. Humane Society International (HSI) and The Humane Society of the United States have worked with Compass Group around the globe for several years on this and other animal welfare issues, including on the company’s cage-free egg policies for their US and Mexico operations.

In the UK, Compass Group serves one million meals and three million customers every day in hospitals, schools, workplaces, restaurants and sports and leisure venues.

Claire Bass, Executive Director of HSI UK, said: “Compass Group’s commitment to a cage-free policy for its global supply chain will improve the lives of millions of hens each year.  It is clear that the cage-free is the future of the egg industry across the world, and we look forward to working with more companies on such far-reaching policies.”

In its statement, Nicki Crayfourd, Director of Group Health, Safety and Environment at Compass Group PLC, commented: “Improving the welfare of farm animals is a key focus for our business and we've supported the sourcing of cage free eggs since 2009. This commitment marks the next step in our journey and we look forward to continuing to work with partners such as Compassion in World Farming, Humane Society International and The Humane League who provide invaluable support and guidance.”

Egg-laying hens are often confined for their whole lives in wire battery cages so small and crowded with other birds that the animals cannot even fully stretch their wings. The use of conventional battery cages for laying hens is banned or being phased out under laws or regulations throughout the EU, five US states, New Zealand and Bhutan. The majority of states in India, which is the world’s third largest egg producer, have declared that the use of battery cages violates the country’s animal welfare legislation, and the country is debating a national ban.

The announcement follows a similar commitment made recently by Sodexo, the world’s second largest food service provider, also to switch to a 100 per cent cage-free egg supply chain for its global operations. Compass Group joins a growing number of companies that have committed to cage-free egg policies worldwide including Alsea, Unilever, Grupo Bimbo and Nestlé.

Approximately 12 billion eggs are consumed annually in the UK, with almost one quarter of them used in food service, so the announcement from Compass Group reflects real progress in this sector.