Restaurant Chains
Restaurant Chains, like McDonald’s and A&W Canada, are major purchasers of eggs and can push for substantial industry changes with their purchasing power. Restaurants are among the first to follow consumer trends as it can give their business a competitive advantage.
Stance
Many chains pledged to transition to cage-free by a variety of dates when this controversy kicked off in the early 2010’s, but only some made substantial progress. The main challenge brought up by chains is the difficulty of finding enough cage-free egg suppliers to meet their product needs.
​“Over 117 million Canada Grade A eggs are sourced per year for Canadian restaurants, so we want to make sure we’re using our scale for good,”
- Hope Bentley, Head of Supply Chain, McDonald’s Canada (source)
“This is about animal welfare, supporting Canadian farmers, and the future of this country’s agriculture industry.”
- Hope Bentley, Head of Supply Chain, McDonald’s Canada (source)​
“Enriched [housing] doesn't mean anything to our customers, but they know what cage-free means."
- Marion Gross, McDonalds (source)
A&W Canada took a different approach by transitioning to “larger” enriched cages in 2016 but temporarily holding off on transitioning to cage-free systems. Instead, they funded research into hen welfare and housing systems.
“We are investing in innovation to accelerate the pace of change because right now there are no viable cage-free egg options that meet our supply standards regarding the use of antibiotics. We are committed to change because we think it is the right thing for the animals, the industry, our business and Canada.”
- A&W Statement (source)
They repledged to cage-free in 2021, reported 65% progress towards cage-free in 2024, and finally reached 100% cage-free eggs in 2025.
“We work hand in hand with our suppliers and other industry and science experts to continuously improve practices that ensure animals in our supply chain are free from cruelty, abuse and are treated with respect. We also recognize that requirements for animal welfare evolve as new science and best practices emerge. That's why we continuously review and update our standards and practices through science-based assessment, consultation with experts and our suppliers, and through the evaluation of feasibility and time frames.”
- A&W Statement (source)
_svg.png){kind=logo}
Restaurant Brands International pushed back the timeline of their original pledge to be cage-free by 2025. The new target of 2030 "is the practical timing to match up the volume of eggs we use and the availability of cage-free eggs supply in Canada.” (source). This pledge was then amended again to target 2028.
Focuses on cage-free as the foundation for good welfare