Allied Pinnacle, the largest bakery supplier to Coles and Woolworths, will eliminate cage eggs from its supply chain by 2023, it announced today.
Allied uses more than 40 million eggs every year. By the end of the phase out period more than 130,000 hens will be spared from battery cages.
Allied Pinnacle CEO, James Ajaka, said: “We will be working closely with our egg suppliers, and customers, to continue the phasing out of caged-eggs. This is a significant undertaking given the size and scope of our requirements, but we are confident we can achieve our target of one hundred per cent cage-free eggs by 2023.”
“We have worked closely with Animals Australia and appreciate their help and support in developing our cage free egg policy.”
The decision was applauded by Animals Australia, which said the announcement came at a critical time with the future of battery cages about to be decided through a government review of the Poultry Code.
Animals Australia CEO, Glenys Oogjes, said: “While consumers are increasingly choosing not to buy cage eggs, many people don’t realise that food products they purchase in supermarkets or cafes can often contain egg ingredients that come from hens confined to cages. In fact sixty per cent of eggs produced are used in food rather than being sold as whole eggs.
“We greatly appreciate Allied Pinnacle’s co-operation in reaching this outcome. It demonstrates how animal protection organisations and the corporate sector can work together constructively to improve the lives of animals."
