Retailers knock out cage for barn

Two of the country’s leading supermarkets have replaced their premium cage lines with barn eggs.

The move will give a much-needed boost to the barn egg market which is still reeling from Morrison’s decision to de-list the category from the shelves of recently acquired Safeway stores.

Asda were the first to move, announcing that from May 1 “500,000 hens would be switched from battery cages into open barns” leading to the company selling 140 million less cage eggs over the next year alone.

Asda says that more of its customers are opting for higher welfare British eggs.

“Each of our 277 stores nationwide now has a comprehensive selection of barn and free range eggs on sale,” says agriculture manager Chris Brown, who reports that free range sales are growing at around 20 per cent year-on-year. The retailer will continue to stock its value-line ‘Smartprice’ eggs which are produced in cages.

Meanwhile Sainsbury’s is planning a similar move from the end of this month which, says the retailer, will convert sales of over two million eggs a week from cage to barn. Sainsbury’s says it has been working closely with its supply base for the past two years to ensure it offers the best possible range to its consumers whilst ensuring the highest possible standards in animal welfare.

Rob Farr, category buyer commented: “We are delighted to be making this move. Hen welfare & the way in which eggs are produced has become increasingly important to Sainsbury's customers, a fact reflected in our increased sales of both free range and organic eggs. This move will ensure that Sainsbury’s customers have a wide choice of egg type.”

Sainsbury’s is the UK’s leading retailer of organic eggs and is second only to Tesco when it comes to free range volumes. Over 50 per cent of its egg sales are non-cage and it hopes this latest move will push that figure up to over 60 per cent. Stores will continue to stock cage eggs in the shape of Sainsbury’s ‘Basic’ range.

John Avizienius, RSPCA senior scientific officer, said: “This is great news for animal welfare. We are delighted that Asda and Sainsbury’s have responded to consumer demand in taking this initiative and hope to see other retailers who stock a high number of battery eggs following their lead.”