WattAgNet: 3 more cage-free egg pledges from US, Canada businesses

Written February 10, 2016

By Roy Graber

The cage-free egg movement has recently grown, with Cara Foods, BJ’s Wholesale Club and Taco John’s pledging to transition to sourcing only cage-free eggs.

The three businesses join a growing list of companies vowing to transition into sourcing only cage-free eggs. Others to do so in 2016 include Burger King, Tim Hortons, Starwood Hotels and Resorts,  Sonic, Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, Bob Evans, White Castle, P.F. Chang’s, California Pizza Kitchen, Target, ConAgra, Campbell’s, Mondel?z International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Denny’s, Quiznos, and Wendy’s.

Cara Foods

Cara Foods, Canada’s oldest and largest full-service restaurant company, announced that it will begin using only 100 percent cage-free eggs in 2016 and will fully transition to using only eggs from cage-free operations by 2020.

Cara franchises and operates some of Canada’s most recognized restaurant chains, including Swiss Chalet, Harvey's, Milestones, Montana's, Kelsey's, East Side Mario's, Casey's, New York Fries, Prime Pubs, Bier Markt and Landing.

"Our customers increasingly want to know more about the source of the food they eat. Our decision to source only cage-free eggs is one more step in this direction. Cara is committed to this important initiative." said Bill Gregson, Cara chairman and CEO. "We have determined that moving to source only 100 percent cage-free eggs from farms that treat animals humanely on this time frame is the right decision for our guests, employees, franchisee partners and the company."

BJ’s Wholesale Club

BJ’s Wholesale Club, a Massachusetts-based operator of membership warehouse clubs in the Eastern United States, announced on its Facebook page and through a press release issued in cooperation with The Humane League, that its entire supply of shell eggs will be from cage-free operations by 2022, and all of its liquid egg products will come from cage-free farms by 2025.

BJ’s Wholesale Club currently operates 213 clubs in 15 states.

Taco John’s

Quick service restaurant chain Taco John’s has pledged to phase out eggs from caged hens by 2025.

The company uses about 8 million eggs each year, according to a company press release. Headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Taco John’s operates nearly 400 restaurants in 27 states.

Roy Graber is a staff reporter at WATT Global Media. Contact Graber via email at rgraber@wattglobal.com.