Kroger chose cages. Now it’s facing a global reckoning.
What happens when the second-largest grocery store in the U.S. weakens its cage-free commitment? Animal Equality warns that it will leave millions of hens in cages.
- In 2016, Kroger pledged to stop selling eggs from caged hens. Six years later, Kroger significantly weakened its policy.
- The company now has no public plan to fully remove cages from its U.S. egg supply.
- Kroger’s policy reversal has sparked protests around the world, including at Kroger’s headquarters in Cincinnati.
- Kroger now stands apart from grocery giants like Target and Ahold Delhaize, both of which recently pledged to stop sourcing eggs from caged hens.
In 2016, the second-largest grocer in the United States joined a growing list of companies committed to stop selling eggs from caged hens. For years, Kroger reassured the public that it was “on track” toward that goal.
By 2022, Kroger had significantly weakened its commitment, reducing its target from 100% cage-free by the end of 2025 to 70% cage-free by 2030. The company currently has no plans to fully eliminate cages.
This decision leaves up to 40 million hens a year subjected to a life inside a cage “no larger than a sheet of paper,” as described by animal welfare experts.
Kroger has chosen to settle for less than the bare minimum, and millions of hens will suffer because of that choice. Animal Equality does not accept these standards, and neither do Kroger’s customers, which is why we will be campaigning against Kroger until its leaders eliminate cages.
—Sharon Nunez, President of Animal Equality
Kroger eggs spark global controversy
Kroger’s decision has led to a campaign by Animal Equality and other animal protection organizations. Demonstrations are planned in cities around the world, including at Kroger’s headquarters in Cincinnati.
Kroger’s top executives have also become the target of public pressure. These decision-makers continue to be influential voices inside major companies like Dell, Calvin Klein and Scotiabank, despite their ties to a practice deemed so cruel it was outlawed in 10 states. Consumers are demanding that these companies remove Kroger leaders from their boards.
Kroger falls behind competitors
Kroger’s position stands out as other companies respond to public concern for animals. Ahold Delhaize, the parent company of Stop & Shop, Giant, Food Lion, and Hannaford, is one of them. The grocery retailer was quickly followed by Target.
Advocates say Kroger now faces a clear choice: follow through on its promise or continue falling behind.
Defend hens and chicks
Each chicken has less than the space of a single sheet of A4 paper to live in on a typical UK egg farm. You can save chickens from a life of misery by replacing eggs in your meals with plant-based alternatives.
