Tesco is to extend the policy announced by all major retailers in the UK to stop selling eggs from caged hens by 2025 to include its stores across Europe.
The new policy will affect all shell eggs in Tesco’s European locations, covering their 1,100 stores throughout Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia, adding to the 3,500 stores affected by the retailer’s UK commitment in 2016.
Tesco said it had made the decision because the shopping habits of customers were continuously changing. “Now, besides price increasingly more shoppers are interested in where products come from and how they are produced,” the retailer said. “To meet these expectations Tesco in Central Europe is taking steps to make sure that by the end of 2025 no eggs from caged hens will be available in its stores, including both own brand and branded eggs.
Jamie Walker, CE Product Director commented: “Our decision on caged hens is in line with the Tesco approach to ensuring sustainable sourcing and improving animal welfare. We will be working in partnership with our suppliers to move to 100% cage-free eggs.”
Tesco already offers a wide range of different types of eggs for customers to choose from, including barn, free range and organic eggs. During the transition to 100% cage free eggs Tesco and its suppliers will continue to meet the strong existing standards and welfare specifications for egg production, the retailer said
This initiative is part of Tesco’s efforts to ensure it sources its products in a sustainable and ethical way and follows a commitment by Tesco UK to end the sale of caged eggs.
