Published 25/04/2014

Woolworths has become the first African retailer to receive Compassion’s Good Egg Award for its ongoing commitment to leading the free-range egg industry in South Africa.

Responding to customer concerns, Woolworths was South Africa’s first retailer to make the switch to selling exclusively free-range eggs in cartons and remains the only retailer after nearly a decade to do so.

The company is also well on its way to banishing caged egg ingredient from its manufactured products. In 2011, one of the retailer’s main egg suppliers invested R20 million (more than £1million) in a new specialised facility and farm, the first of its kind in the country, dedicated to producing pasteurised liquid egg (used in food products) from free-range eggs.

Currently more than 75per cent of Woolworths food products containing egg as an ingredient are made with free-range eggs, and this percentage continues to rise each year.

Compassion CEO Philip Lymbery says: “I am so pleased to be able to congratulate Woolworths in this way. Farm animal welfare is rising up the agenda across the world, and with this award we’re recognising the leading role Woolworths is playing in Africa to secure better conditions for laying hens.

“The Good Egg Award is a sign to its customers that their animal welfare concerns are taken seriously and the nearly half a million hens that produce their eggs are raised to higher welfare standards.”

Zyda Rylands, Woolworths Managing Director of Food says the company is proud to have received the award. She adds: “Animal welfare remains a key area of concern for both Woolworths and our customers and we are committed to constantly improving all aspects of animal health and welfare.”

Philip handed the Good Egg Award to Zyda Rylands at a recent presentation in Cape Town.