As the global leader in airline catering, retail-on-board and food service, gategroup has the commitment to helping build a better future. As part of this undertaking, gategroup has pledged to make its entire egg supply chain cage-free by 2025.
gategroup’s pledge
All egg (shell egg, liquid egg and mixes containing more than 80% egg) purchases globally will conform to certified standards of animal welfare that meet or exceed those dictated by local legislation. Its global, group-wide, minimum welfare standard is ‘barn’ (cage-free) eggs. gategroup is working with its partners and suppliers to achieve its goal of 100% cage-free eggs throughout the Group by 2025.
Rising to the challenge
gategroup has worked hard towards its cage-free eggs ambition over the last years to achieve more than 75% cage-free eggs globally. To achieve its goals, it is confronting the final challenge— working in those regions with a less mature sustainable supplier base. Despite the difficulties of promoting sustainability throughout a food supply chain that is both global and local, gategroup and its partners and suppliers are rising to the challenge. Eggs are just the first step. Gategroup is in the process of conducting a comprehensive audit of its suppliers to ensure that they are complying with its stringent procurement standards and will be publishing its results in its first Sustainability Report to be published alongside its Annual Report in April of next year.
“gategroup is propelling industry change and reinforcing its dedication to superior culinary experiences with its global commitment to remove cages from its supply chains around the world,” said Hannah Surowinski, Global Corporate Relations Coordinator, The Humane League. “On behalf of the entire Open Wing Alliance, The Humane League commends gategroup’s ability to spearhead an accelerated model of progress towards higher animal welfare—having already transitioned 75% of its global egg supply to cage-free.”
“This is an important step for making gategroup a more transparent, sustainable company,” said Francisco Moreno, gategroup’s Chief Operations Officer. “We have always cared about maintaining a sustainable, ethical supply chain—but we have a responsibility to do more. To help us on this path we’re working with partners such as the Humane League and the Lever Foundation.”
“gategroup’s commitment to switching to cage-free eggs globally is a very significant announcement,” said Kirsty Tuxford, Corporate Outreach Manager at Lever Foundation. “As a global company with complex supply chains, gategroup is proving that it is possible to enhance animal welfare in food supply chains in all regions. Lever Foundation applauds this decision, which will make a huge positive difference to the lives of millions of laying hens.”
This commitment to sustainability extends beyond gategroup’s culinary supply chain. Its deSter business division is an award-winning industry leader in sustainable packaging and equipment, and it works with its customers to help create new, locally sourced, and sustainably packaged gastronomic experiences that reflect their brand identities and culinary roots.
“SWISS places its sustainability efforts at the strategic core of its actions”, said Annabelle Reichen, Head of Hospitality and Catering at SWISS. “We are therefore very pleased that our culinary partner gategroup further strengthens their commitment to cage-free eggs. Gategroup has been providing 100% cage-free eggs to SWISS passengers for several years already and we will continue to embrace our partner’s initiatives for an even more sustainable supply chain.”
More information about gategroup’s commitments to fair, equitable and humane business practices and supply chains can be found on the gategroup ESG policy page.