Farm Foods is under fresh pressure after four animal welfare charities have written to the company over its continued sourcing of eggs from caged chickens as the government moves closer to a national ban on caged farming.
A joint letter sent on January 19 called on Farm Foods to reconsider its position after failing to meet the industry’s 2025 cage-free deadline.
The document is signed by The Humane League UK, Compassion in World Farming, Open Cages and the RSPCA and is addressed to George Herd, Managing Director of Farmfoods.
Farm Foods is currently the only major UK retailer not to commit to phasing out eggs from caged laying hens.
Other supermarkets such as Aldi, Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, M&S and Waitrose already source 100% cage-free shell eggs.
The issue has taken on added significance following the government’s announcement of its intention to ban cages for laying hens, which could impact the entire egg supply chain.
Humane League UK managing director Sean Gifford said retailers were lagging behind much of the industry.
“It’s shocking that as we enter a new year, Farm Foods is still clinging to the same horribly cruel cage that much of the country has abandoned,” he said.
“It’s been 10 years since they pledged to phase out cages, so we, along with our fellow animal charities, are highlighting how Farm Foods has fallen behind the times and failed to move forward with the industry, government and customers.”
The letter comes after new campaign efforts, including a demonstration outside a Farm Foods store in Bristol and the use of mobile advertising in Birmingham.
Pressure on retailers has been ongoing since 2016, with Farm Foods pledging to leave the cage after working with campaign groups, but later backtracking on that pledge.
The British Humane Federation then launched a petition calling for a return to cage-free sourcing, which gained over 50,000 signatures.
Activists argue that caged systems restrict natural behaviors such as sand bathing, roosting and flapping, and that continued sourcing from these systems risks prolonging their use.
Farm Foods previously said it withdrew its commitment because it “does not want to deny our customers access to the high-value, nutritious food provided by eggs laid by caged hens.”
Charities dispute this position, arguing that affordability should not be a barrier to higher welfare standards, especially as low-cost retailers have already moved to cage-free eggs.
They also deny claims that supply is the limiting factor, pointing out that 83% of the UK egg industry is now cage-free.
Public opinion appears to be firmly against cages. Opinion polls show that 94% of the British public oppose the use of cages for laying chickens, while research from Compassion in World Farming shows that 67% of consumers are willing to pay more for cage-free eggs.
Farm Foods generates around £1bn a year in revenue and campaigners argue its size gives it scope to support the move away from cages ahead of future legislation.
For egg producers, the debate highlights ongoing uncertainty around retail demand, investment confidence and the pace of change as the industry prepares for further regulatory reform.
