Compassion in World Farming’s latest EggTrack report reveals that forward-thinking companies are driving the shift toward cage-free production, proving that higher welfare standards are both achievable and commercially viable. However, it’s increasingly clear that voluntary action alone will only take the industry so far. As the UK and Europe move toward major reforms to phase out cages for laying hens, strong legislation is now needed to level the playing field and ensure the entire industry—not just the leaders—delivers a cage-free future.
More than 2,800 companies worldwide have already pledged to source only cage-free eggs, signalling a major shift in food industry standards. With many setting 2025 as their deadline, this year’s EggTrack provides the most comprehensive assessment of industry progress, highlighting those that have already achieved 100% cage-free supply chains, and those falling behind.
EggTrack monitors the progress of the most influential food companies against their cage-free commitments. This year, 852 commitments across 602 business entities were assessed. The average cage-free transition now stands at 85%, reflecting a steady and measurable increase from the 75% reported in the last Global EggTrack in 2023, with more than 160 million hens already benefiting from being cage-free each year (based on data from 117 commitments).
Nearly 30% of businesses (168) are now fully cage-free across all egg categories in their supply, with 71 businesses achieving this milestone since the 2023 Global EggTrack, including Compass Group UK&IRE, Caffè Nero, Greggs, The Restaurant Group plc, and Tesco UK.
However, progress remains uneven. Of the 415 commitments with a 2025 deadline, only 48% (198) have been fulfilled. While many companies have fallen short of their target, 29% of missed 2025 commitments have already achieved at least 75% cage-free, indicating significant progress towards full compliance. That said, 217 commitments remain unmet—112 with progress reporting, but 80 have no updated reporting at all, including Mars (Global), Sonic Drive in (US), Dunkin Brands Inc (US), and Aldi Sud (Global).
Concerningly, some companies are weakening commitments instead of delivering them. Of the 852 commitments tracked, 61 have pushed back their deadlines – although 21 of these have published revised timelines toward full compliance. Even more disappointingly, 29 businesses have removed their deadlines (but retained their commitment), while 50 have withdrawn their cage-free pledges entirely, including Spar (UK & IRE), Prezzo Restaurants (UK & IRE), Bidfood (EU & NZ), Unilever (Global), Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (Global), and Metro AG (Global).
Companies that renege on their cage-free commitments are not only failing animals and falling short of customer expectations, but they are also moving against the global shift toward cage-free eggs and the evolving legislative framework in many parts of the world.
For the commitments included in EggTrack, Europe continues to lead with an average cage-free transition of 94% (from 377 commitments), up from 80% in 2023. This progress is supported by a mature market and an evolving legislative landscape, with proposals to ban cages for laying hens in Europe expected by the end of 2026.
Global commitments have also advanced, with the average cage-free transition rising from 64% in 2023, to 79% in 2025 (from 117 companies). Twelve global companies, are fully cage-free across all their egg categories, including five that achieved full transition since the 2023 Global EggTrack: Pizza Express (Restaurants) Limited, Caffè Nero, The Cheesecake Factory, IKEA Food, Conagra Brands, Inc.
USA and Canada continue to make moderate progress, reaching 81% average cage-free transition in 2025 (from 116 commitments), compared to 73% in 2023 for the US market alone. Progress in the Asia-Pacific region has plateaued at 58% (slight increase from 55% in 2023).
Retailers lead the way with the highest transition of 93% (up from 77% in 2023), closely followed by the Restaurant sector at 90% (up from 77% in 2023). In contrast, progress among Manufacturers has slowed, rising only slightly to 85% (from 83% in 2023), while the Food service and Hospitality sector continues to lag behind at 68% (from 65% in 2023). Producers with a cage-free commitment assessed in EggTrack increased their transition from 71% in 2023 to 93% this year.
The UK continues to perform well, with an average cage-free transition of 97% across 71 reporting commitments. However, only 31 of the 49 companies tracked have successfully completed their cage-free transition across all egg categories.
In the retail sector, Aldi UK, Lidl GB and Tesco UK have now achieved 100% cage-free status, joining Waitrose, M&S, Co-op and Sainsbury’s who met their commitments prior to 2025. ASDA has reached full cage-free sourcing across its own-brand shell eggs and egg products but is urged to move to cage-free branded shell eggs in line with its competitors. Meanwhile Morrisons continues to make progress, achieving 100% for shell eggs and 92% for egg products.
However, progress is not universal. Iceland has delayed its deadline to 2027 without reporting on its progress for 2025, while SPAR (UK) has removed its public commitment altogether, and Compassion calls on the company to urgently reinstate a clear, time-bound pledge.
The two UK producers included in EggTrack, Noble Foods and LJ Fairburn & Son, have extended their deadlines to 2026 but are close to completion, reaching 95% and 89% cage-free production respectively.
EggTrack 2025 highlights both meaningful progress and a clear need for urgent action. While many companies have met their commitments, too many have missed deadlines, weakened pledges or withdrawn them entirely, undermining accountability and falling short of consumer expectations.
At the same time, the report demonstrates that full transition is achievable, particularly in markets such as Europe, where progress is being driven by consumer demand, corporate action and a strengthening legislative framework.
Compassion in World Farming urges all companies that have missed their 2025 deadline to take swift action to complete their transition in 2026. Companies that have dropped their commitments must urgently reinstate them, publish clear and time-bound transition plans, and report transparently on their progress. This includes working closely with suppliers, embedding cage-free requirements into procurement policies, investing in supply chain development, and reporting progress transparently.
Dr Tracey Jones, Global Director of Food Business, said: “EggTrack 2025 marks a defining moment for corporate cage-free commitments. Businesses continue to lead the way, particularly in Europe, but strong legislation is essential to level the playing field—ensuring the whole industry delivers a cage-free future.
“Companies falling behind must act now with urgency to progress towards their commitment deadlines and those that have dropped commitments must reinstate them immediately. With legislative momentum building and the rising global trend towards cage-free, companies have a clear opportunity—and responsibility—to turn promises into action and consign cages to the history books for good.”
EggTrack will continue to provide independent scrutiny and drive progress until cage-free systems are fully realised for laying hens worldwide.
