Coffee chain Joe & The Juice has announced a global pledge to use only cage-free eggs and egg ingredients in its supply chain by 2024.
The new policy covers all products including baked goods and sandwiches at all the company’s nearly 350 global locations. These are spread across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia, with a total of 65 outlets currently operating in the UK.
Joe & The Juice was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2002 and specialises in coffee, sandwiches, snacks, sweet treats, shakes, and juices.
In a statement, the company said it was committed to animal welfare and, while it does not directly process and serve raw eggs, it does sell third-party products that contain cage-free eggs in most of the markets. The business noted it was working to ensure that 100% of its third-party products contain cage-free eggs by 2024.
International NGO Lever Foundation was brought in to work with the brand on its new policy.
“The company has already shown a dedication to chicken welfare by committing to the European Chicken Commitment,” said Kirsty Tuxford, corporate engagement manager at the Lever Foundation. “By making this additional pledge on cage-free eggs, they have joined an increasing number of leading coffee chains in moving away from the cruelty of caged confinement.”
Other international coffee brands that have committed to sourcing only cage-free eggs in all markets include Pret a Manger, Costa Coffee, Caffe Nero, Tim Hortons, Krispy Kreme, and Dunkin Donuts.
An outbreak of avian influenza in the UK saw the government impose a housing order last November, making it a legal requirement for poultry and other captive birds to be kept indoors. This restriction was officially lifted on 18 April to allow free-range eggs to return to supermarket shelves. Eggs laid by hens kept indoors for longer than 16 weeks must be labelled as barn eggs.
Avian influenza, combined with what The British Egg Industry Council described as ’unprecedented pressures’ causing some egg farmers to cease production, has resulted in some bakeries reducing or replacing eggs altogether.
No comments yet