Wakefern Clarifies Its Position on Cage-Free Eggs
April 01, 2016
April 22, 2016
Wakefern Food Corp. and its cooperative members would like to clarify its position on cage-free eggs.
It is our goal to source 100 percent cage-free, fresh eggs for our ShopRite, Price Rite and The Fresh Grocer stores by 2025 based on available supply.
Making the transition to cage-free will require time and financial resources for the industry. While producers and retailers move toward their cage-free goals, we will continue to examine the latest animal welfare standards and best practices to ensure we provide you with the best choices available to help you care for and nourish your family.
Wakefern Food Corp. and its cooperative members do not tolerate animal abuse of any kind. We expect all our suppliers to adhere to accepted industry standards and best practices in the humane treatment of animals used to produce the nourishing foods our customers depend on. We believe that animals should and can be raised, handled, and transported in ways that ensure they are cared for and free from cruelty, abuse or neglect.
The families that own and operate ShopRite, Price Rite and The Fresh Grocer stores have served the community for more than 70 years. Your trust and confidence is important to us and we will continue to work hard to provide you with wholesome, high quality, and humanely sourced foods at a great value that you can be proud to serve and we are proud to sell.
Thank you.
April 1, 2016
Wakefern’s Position on Cage-Free Eggs – A Letter to Our Customers
Wakefern Food Corp. has committed to source 100% cage-free eggs for our private label brand, based on available supply, by 2025 for its ShopRite, Price Rite and The Fresh Grocer banners.
We made this decision after working with our suppliers and animal welfare experts to carefully examine the facts around cage-free egg production and what it will take to transition 90 percent of all eggs produced to cage-free houses. In light of similar commitments by other supermarkets, restaurant chains and food service companies, we believe the demand for cage-free eggs will drive the nation’s egg producers to universally adopt cage-free systems. The result: a nationwide supply of cage-free eggs for both branded and private label eggs alike.
In spite of this commitment, animal rights activists have waged a public campaign against us. We want you to know that we strive to approach decisions such as this with integrity, respect for our customers’ needs and an understanding of the facts. One thing is certain, when we make a commitment we do so with a sincere belief that we can accomplish it; which is why today we can only address our own brand of eggs.
One thing we know for sure is that it will take time, money and resources for the egg industry to make the transition to cage-free production. While the industry moves toward its cage-free goals, we will continue to examine the latest animal welfare standards and best practices to ensure we provide you with the best choices available to help you care for and nourish your family.
The families that own and operate ShopRite, Price Rite and The Fresh Grocer stores have served the community for more than 70 years. Your trust and confidence is important to us and we will continue to work hard to provide you with wholesome, high quality, and humanely sourced foods at a great value that you can be proud to serve and we are proud to sell.
Thank you.
<< Back