Published 08/01/2008

The Co-operative has announced an end to the sale of eggs from caged hens. The move means that over half a million hens, supplying the Co-operative with eggs each year, will be kept out of cages.

Already cage-free on its own label eggs, The Co-operative has decided to take further action amidst consumer concern over hen welfare. M&S and Waitrose are already cage-free on all the eggs they sell and The Co-operative joins Sainsbury's to become the fourth major retailer to make a cage-free commitment on shell eggs.

Compassion in World Farming Food Business Manager, Rowen West-Henzell said: 'This is tremendous news. The Co-operative has already demonstrated its animal welfare credentials by coming in the top three in our recent supermarket survey and will now be well on its way to winning one of our Good Egg Awards this spring.'

The Co-operative was commended at last year's Good Egg Awards for its policy of only selling cage-free eggs under its own label. Its move, to ban caged eggs altogether, will guarantee The Co-operative a nomination for a full Good Egg Award in April 2008.

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