As the 2025 deadline for cage-free egg commitments approaches for many food companies, Compassion in World Farming’s EggTrack 2024 turns the spotlight on company progress across Europe, revealing where businesses are leading the way – and those that are falling behind.

Compassion launched its EggTrack report several years ago to monitor the progress of the world’s largest food companies in meeting their voluntary cage-free egg commitments for shell eggs (own-brand and branded) and egg products, across global regions (US, Europe and the UK and Asia-Pacific). EggTrack not only recognises these commitments but also promotes market transparency by encouraging year-on-year progress reporting on the transition to cage-free eggs. This is vital, as the real impact for laying hens comes only when pledges become a reality.

This year, Compassion is providing in-country company ‘Spotlights’ to showcase how companies in the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Poland are progressing toward their 2025 commitments. The Spotlights identify which companies are Leaders (already 100% cage-free), which are In Progress (on track to reach 100% by 2025), which are At Risk (of missing the 2025 deadline) and which are Laggards (have a commitment but are not reporting or have regressed on their progress).

The 2024 EggTrack Spotlights show that UK companies are leading the way on cage-free eggs, where around 75% of the UK market is already cage free. Overall, 40 companies are included in the UK Spotlight with 19 companies counted as Leaders, including Waitrose, M&S, Sainsbury’s, The Co-operative Food, Greggs, McDonald’s and Pizza Express. Seven companies are In Progress including Tesco and Whitbread, whilst Asda and Lidl are amongst the 11 At Risk. One Stop, Greene King and Spar (UK) Ltd are listed as Laggards.

In France, where 70% of the market is already cage-free, 10 companies are recognised as Leaders including Danone Group, Pret A Manger and McDonald’s France, and 9 In Progress including ALDI France, Groupe Casino, LDC. However, 12 are listed At Risk and 9 as Laggards.

In Poland, where only 30% of the market is cage-free, there are just two Leaders: Biedronka and Group Zabka, and 5 In Progress including Carrefour and Lidl. While in Spain, 33% of the market is cage-free and only three Leaders are listed: GB Foods, Grupo Avícola RUJAMAR and Lidl Spain.

While many companies still have a lot of work ahead to meet their cage-free commitments, a major obstacle is the lack of European-wide legislation. Action is crucial to support and solidify the progress made by food companies and to enable European egg producers to transition to future-fit cage-free systems. We therefore urge the EU Commission to push forward with its proposals to phase out cages, not just for laying hens but across all species including pigs and rabbits.

Dr Tracey Jones, Global Director of Food Business at Compassion in World Farming says:

“The EggTrack 2024 ‘Spotlights’ clearly highlight which businesses are on track to meet next year’s cage-free deadline, and those that are falling behind. Encouragingly, 58 per cent of companies in our Spotlight have either met or are making progress toward achieving their commitments.

“But the responsibility to free hens from cages doesn’t rest solely with companies. The European Commission must step up and enact legislation that supports market transition and drives the change needed for all food companies to only source and sell cage-free eggs and ends the production of caged eggs across Europe once and for all.”

The full EggTrack Spotlights can be found here: https://www.eggtrack.com/

Compassion’s EggTrack 2024 Spotlights Industry Leaders and Laggards in Cage-free Egg Transition