Multinational grocery retailer Ahold Delhaize has announced a new commitment aimed at improving animal welfare standards for hens and pigs within its supply chain, marking what campaigners have described as a significant shift in industrial farming practices.
The company confirmed that it will transition its U.S. operations toward cage-free sourcing for eggs and pork products over the coming years. The pledge follows a sustained campaign by animal protection organisations, including Animal Equality, which had urged the retailer to address the use of cages in large-scale livestock production.
Headquartered in the Netherlands, Ahold Delhaize operates a major retail network across the United States through brands including Stop & Shop, Giant, Hannaford and Food Lion. The company said the initiative would affect millions of animals within its supply chain while also improving transparency around sourcing standards.
Under the agreement, Ahold Delhaize has committed to publishing annual progress reports outlining its progress toward meeting the new welfare targets. The company estimates that the move will affect approximately 5 to 7 million hens, as well as tens of thousands of female pigs used for breeding purposes.
Animal welfare advocates welcomed the decision, arguing that it represents a meaningful step away from intensive confinement practices commonly used in industrial agriculture.
“Ahold Delhaize is doing what is necessary by eliminating one of the cruelest farming practices in industrial agriculture,” shares Sharon Núñez, President of Animal Equality. “We are pleased with the company’s announcement and call on its competitors, Kroger and Target, to follow their lead.”
Pressure on industrial farming practices
Caging systems are widely used in large-scale livestock production to maximise the number of animals housed within factory farming facilities. Critics, however, have increasingly raised concerns about the impact on animal welfare, arguing that such systems severely limit movement and natural behaviour.
Consumer awareness around these practices has grown steadily in recent years, prompting both regulatory action and changes in corporate sourcing policies.
In the United States, nearly a dozen states have introduced bans on certain forms of confinement for farm animals. Similar restrictions have also been implemented in the European Union, which is Ahold Delhaize’s home market.
Animal Equality said it had been engaging with the retailer over the past year as part of a broader campaign to encourage companies to phase out the use of cages in their supply chains.
The retailer indicated that its shift toward cage-free sourcing is also linked to wider sustainability considerations.
Ahold Delhaize said that reducing reliance on cage systems could help “support healthy communities and a healthy planet.”
Animal Equality believes the announcement reflects growing momentum behind global animal welfare initiatives.
“This pledge is a step forward in our work to end animal cruelty,” adds Núñez. “We want to recognize the many organizations in the U.S. and abroad whose work also made this announcement possible.”
Phased transition over the next decade
The company’s plans will be implemented gradually across its American retail network.
According to the timeline outlined in the agreement, all pork products sold through the retailer’s U.S. operations will come from cage-free suppliers by 2028. The transition for egg products is scheduled to be completed by 2032.
In the interim, the supermarket group has also committed to improving transparency for shoppers. By the end of the third quarter of 2026, Ahold Delhaize said it will introduce clearer cage-free labelling and signage across all of its U.S. stores.
The retailer’s decision reflects a broader trend among global food companies responding to shifting consumer expectations around ethical sourcing and sustainability.
Supermarkets in both North America and Europe have faced increasing pressure from advocacy groups, investors and customers to demonstrate stronger commitments on environmental and animal welfare issues.
Animal Equality said it intends to continue engaging with Ahold Delhaize to track the progress of the commitments and ensure that the company follows through on its targets.
The organisation added that continued dialogue between campaigners and food retailers will be essential to delivering long-term changes across the global agricultural supply chain.
