Co-op will stop selling cage eggs

The Co-operative retail chain has from today stopped selling eggs produced by hens housed in cages.

This means that all eggs on sale at the Co-operative are now either free-range or organic, and are accredited by the RSPCA’s Freedom Food scheme.

It comes after a six-month consultation process with Co-operative members, which began last September. Animal welfare emerged as one of the top areas that members wished to see prioritised by the business.

Steve Connolly, category trading manager for dairy at The Co-operative, said: “The decision to ban the sale of eggs from caged hens is the latest move in our responsible retailing strategy. We know our customers consider animal welfare and local sourcing to be key areas, so we have listened to them and provided only free range eggs that are laid in the UK.”

It now joins Waitrose and Marks and Spencer, which already only sell free-range eggs.

Sainsbury’s expects to end the sale of all eggs from caged hens, which account for a quarter of its egg sales, by next year while Morrisons plans to stop selling them under its own brand by 2010.