Bashas’, Raley’s and Sprouts Farmers Market became the three latest grocery chains to commit to selling only cage-free eggs. The three chains collectively account for more than 450 supermarkets in the United States.
In addition, restaurant groups Shoney’s, HMSHost and Boston Pizza made similar commitments.
Bashas’ Supermarkets
Bashas’ Supermarkets, headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, stated that its private label eggs will be cage-free by the end of 2017, while all eggs sold in its stores will be cage-free by 2025, as long a supply permits.
For its Bashas’ branded eggs, Bashas’ is teaming up with Arizona-based Hickman’s Family Farms to source those cage-free eggs.
“We are especially proud to be making this momentous transition with one of our longest-standing customers,” Glenn Hickman, CEO of Hickman’s Family Farms, stated in a press release. “Supporting the cage-free movement means not only a high-quality egg production, but greater comfort for our hens.”
Hickman’s Family Farms recently announced a major expansion of cage-free operations in Arizona.
“Bringing cage-free eggs to our customers is the right thing to do, and we are happy to be partnering with another local, family-owned business to make this happen, added Edward “Trey” Basha, CEO of Bashas’.
Bashas’ operates more than 130 stores in the U.S.
Raley’s
Raley’s, headquartered in West Sacramento, California, announced that all of its private label eggs will come from cage-free operations by July, while it has set a goal of sourcing only cage-free eggs for all other brands by 2020, based on availability.
The chain, in a press release, stated that it is committed to work with farmers and suppliers to ensure the supply of cage-free will be available within the timeline set.
“We are proud to make this quick transition to cage-free eggs on our private-label offerings, where we have authority over the product and supply chain,” said Chelsea Minor, Raley’s director of public Relations & public affairs. “As we make this transition, we will continue to serve as a resource for our customers and their product selections.”
Raley’s operates about 130 supermarkets in the U.S.
Sprouts Farmers Market
Sprouts Farmers Market stated on its website that it would be working with suppliers to transition to a 100-percent cage-free egg assortment by 2022. The first phase of the transition will focus on sourcing only cage-free or USDA Certified Organic eggs for Sprouts brand eggs by 2018.
After that, the chain will focus on work with suppliers to assure all other eggs sold at its stores will be cage-free by 2022 or sooner.
During 2015, 65 percent of Sprouts’ brand eggs sold came from cage-free operations.
Sprouts Farmers Market, headquartered in Phoenix, operates more than 200 stores across the U.S.
Shoney’s
U.S. restaurant chain Shoney’s has announced that it will serve only eggs from cage-free hens at all of its restaurants by 2025.
Eggs are a brand staple for Shoney’s, which has served all-day breakfast for nearly 70 years. In addition to being featured on Shoney’s Legendary Breakfast Buffet, available cooked-to-order from the menu, eggs are the featured item in Shoney’s All-Star Breakfast. The company estimates that it serves more than 50 million eggs per year.
“We have begun the process of working closely with our suppliers to determine the best sourcing for our eggs and want to be advocates of and partners with the evolution of our supply sourcing chain,” Shoney’s Chairman and CEO David Davoudpour stated in a press release. “We feel this is the right move for our iconic brand and is part of our overarching commitment to providing our guests with fresh quality food at a great value, in the right way. We are proud to be a leader in this cage-free initiative.”
HMSHost
HMSHost, which operates more than 2,000 restaurants in airports and motorways across the United States, announced it will transition to serving only cage-free eggs at all of its restaurants by 2025.
HMSHost will launch this initiative by switching to all cage-free eggs by early summer at several of its restaurants at Los Angeles International Airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, and McCarran International Airport Las Vegas.
“HMSHost is regularly identifying ways to ensure we’re acting in a socially responsible way: safe, responsibly sourced food; sustainability practices in our restaurant designs and operations; and other initiatives that speak to our values as an organization,” HMSHost President and CEO Steve Johnson stated in a press release. “Our decision to source only cage-free eggs reflects the focus we place on food quality and our commitment to exceed the traveler’s expectations.”
This June travelers can expect to find cage-free eggs being served at HMSHost operated restaurants including Tuscany Café, Goose Island, and Tortas Frontera (already serving cage-free eggs) at Chicago O’Hare International Airport; Gladstones and Campanile at Los Angeles International Airport; HMSHost’s exclusive restaurant 1897 Market at Charlotte Douglas International Airport; and PGA TOUR Grill and Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill at McCarran International Airport Las Vegas.
Boston Pizza
Boston Pizza, headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, stated that it would be sourcing 100-percent cage-free eggs at all of its Canadian restaurants by 2025.
“Given the recent industry move to transition Canadian egg producers away from conventional hen housing systems, we are confident we can meet this goal as additional supply of cage-free eggs becomes available on a larger scale,” the company stated on its website
The chain has about 365 restaurants in Canada. It also has locations throughout the United States, according to its website.
