Supermarket group Ahold Delhaize has announced a new timeline to remove eggs from hens kept in battery cages in its United States supply chain.
The company published the plan on Tuesday following pressure from animal welfare groups and public campaigns.
Under the new policy, Ahold Delhaize says it will gradually increase the share of cage-free eggs sold in its US stores. The company plans to reduce eggs from battery-caged hens through several milestones: 75% cage-free egg products by 2026, 85% by 2028, 90% by 2030 and 100% cage-free eggs by 2032
The supermarket group says the transition will affect millions of laying hens each year.
Ahold Delhaize owns several major grocery chains in the United States, including Giant, Food Lion, Stop & Shop, and Hannaford.
Campaign pressure
Animal welfare organization International Council for Animal Welfare said the announcement followed a campaign that included protests, investigations, and online actions targeting the company and its brands.
The group estimates that about seven million chickens each are kept in battery cages. Battery cages are small wire cages used in industrial egg production. The cages restrict natural behaviors such as spreading wings, nesting, walking, and dust-bathing.
Some countries and regions have already banned or restricted their use.
Past commitments
Ahold Delhaize had previously announced plans to transition to cage-free eggs in the United States but delayed those targets several times.
The company says the newly published timeline sets clear steps toward reaching a fully cage-free egg supply in the coming years.
Animal welfare groups are now urging other large US retailers, including Walmart, Kroger, and Albertsons, to publish similar timelines.
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