Bidfood Australia announced it is phasing out eggs sourced from hens housed in cages.
The company cited recent research which showed that more than 60% of New South Wales shoppers say prefer to purchase cage-free eggs instead of conventionally raised eggs. Therefore, changes need to be made to meet customer expectations, Bidfood Australia said on its website.
Bidfood’s CEO Rachel Ruggiero said: “While many consumers choose to buy cage-free eggs at supermarkets, it is important that they are also able to have confidence that the eggs being served when they dine out are also cage-free.”
As the country’s leading foodservice distributor, Bidfood Australia supplies more than 115 million eggs to the foodservice industry each year including restaurants, cafes, hospitals, hotels and schools. Over the coming years Bidfood will be working closely with suppliers and customers to reach the outcome of supplying 100% cage free eggs by 2025. Bidfood’s own range of eggs will be cage free from 2023.
Animal advocacy group Animals Australia applauded the move, which is expected to affect about 380,000 hens
“With around 60% of eggs produced in Australia being used in the foodservice sector, Bidfood’s commitment is a huge positive for animal welfare,” said Glenys Oogies, CEO of Animals Australia..
“Bidfood’s decision, and similar commitments by many of the food industry’s largest companies, sends a strong signal to the egg industry and state governments that it’s time battery cages were relegated to history.”
“Bidfood is the first major Australian foodservice distributor to make a commitment to go cage free and we now call upon other foodservice distributors, which are continuing to supply cage eggs, to follow Bidfood’s leadership,” added Ruggiero.
