Bidfood’s commitment to cage-eggs phase-out, a victory for hens, according to SAFE
New Zealand’s leading food service company, Bidfood NZ, has announced it will only sell cage-free eggs by 2024, a commitment animal rights group SAFE calls a massive victory for hens.
Bidfood NZ is a major provider to the foodservice industry with 15,000 customers nationwide, making it the largest supplier of eggs to the hospitality sector. It is second only to supermarkets in the number of eggs it sells. Bidfood’s policy means that by 2024 all whole eggs sold will be cage-free.
SAFE Head of Campaigns Marianne Macdonald says Bidfood’s cage-free commitment epitomises how rapidly New Zealand’s egg industry is changing.
“Bidfood’s announcement adds yet another voice to a growing chorus of companies saying no to cage cruelty; I’d go as far as to say it’s eggscellent,” says Ms Macdonald.
“With all of New Zealand’s major purchasers of eggs turning their back on cage cruelty, the egg farming industry needs to face the fact that cage eggs will soon be a thing of the past.”
Despite the growing trend to move egg production away from cages, some businesses are resisting the change. This includes The Cheesecake Shop, who still use cage eggs in New Zealand, while its Australian stores are already 100% free-range.
“We’re determined to free hens from cruel cages, and there is still work to do,” says Ms Macdonald.
“Kiwis care about hens just as much as Aussies. It’s time for an end to this double-standard. We’re calling on caring people to ask The Cheesecake Shop to have a heart for hens and extend its Australian cage-free policy to New Zealand.”
