Multi-brand dining company Darden Restaurants Inc. committed to sourcing 100% cage-free eggs in its international locations by 2027 in its newly updated animal welfare policy.
The company already sources 100% cage-free shell eggs and egg products in its U.S. restaurants. Before the revisions, Darden’s cage-free commitment only addressed its U.S. locations.
Darden operates approximately 1,850 restaurants in North America, Central America, South America and Asia. Its brands include Olive Garden, The Capital Grille, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, Yard House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen and Eddie V’s.
Other cage-free egg purchase pledge changes
Darden Restaurants is not the only food service company to alter its the cage-free sourcing policy in 2022.
U.S.-based restaurants Red Robin, Quiznos and Black Bear Diner published conversion plans earlier in the year to source 100% cage-free eggs in all locations, with ends dates in 2024 and 2025, after missing their original deadlines.
Pharmacy retailers CVS Health, Walgreens and Rite Aid all shortened their 100% cage-free sourcing timelines in its respective grocery departments to year-end 2022. Previously, these company’s deadlines were in 2024.
To help foodservice companies make the cage-free transition, Baldor Specialty Foods released a new program that gives customers the opportunity to automatically substitute cage-free egg products in their shopping cart. At checkout, customers have the option to swap back to a non-cage free egg product at checkout if preferred.
Emily Murphy, Baldor Specialty Foods director of merchandising, commented on the program: “We realize that the decision-maker in the restaurant may be wanting a cage-free egg, but whoever is placing the order may not be executing that way. This is a way for the Baldor team and restaurant community to go hand and hand and take the commitment and ensure that everyone is doing their part to put the better egg in the basket.”
