SpartanNash, Gelson's Markets and Brookshire Grocery Company Join Retailers with Plans to Source Cage-Free Eggs

SpartanNash, Gelson's Markets and Brookshire Grocery Company have joined a growing group of food retailers, restaurant chains and food manufacturers with plans to source only cage-free eggs. 

SpartanNash has plans to transition to 100 percent cage-free eggs at its 160 grocery retail stores by 2025 or sooner based on available supply, affordability and customer demand. Cage-free eggs include eggs labeled with any of the following: cage free, free range, USDA or Quality Assurance International Certified Organic, or pasture raised. 

Currently, SpartanNash offers cage-free eggs in all of its 160 retail stores under the Full Circle, Green Meadows or Eggland's Best brands. The company has been selling certified organic eggs which are cage-free for more than 10 years.

"SpartanNash recognizes that farming practices evolve based on new information, technologies, agricultural advancements and consumer preferences," says Larry Pierce, executive vice president of merchandising and marketing. "Consequently, we rely on industry, agricultural and veterinary experts to stay abreast of scientific developments. Such experts have told us that it will take years to modify facilities to ensure an adequate supply of safe, sustainable cage-free eggs. For this reason, our buyers are working closely with our suppliers to ensure we have access to a number of cage-free egg brands for our retail store customers." 

Gelson's Markets, one of California's premier supermarket chains, has also made the commitment to convert all of its private-label packaged eggs to cage-free this year. The company projects that close to 90 percent of its packaged egg sales will be cage-free by next year, with available eggs exclusively cage-free by 2020. 

The majority of eggs sold at Gelson's are already cage-free, with a variety of selections from such brands as Vital Farms, Horizon Organic, Land O Lakes Organic, Happy Eggs, as well as Gelson's branded eggs. All of the new Gelson's cage-free eggs will be supplied by California farms.

"We have been working closely with the Humane Society and are excited to share the news," says Rob McDougall, Gelson's president and CEO.  "We pride ourselves on offering customers a wide selection of products and those that are both health-conscious and ethically responsible, whether grass-fed beef, organic, non-GMO or vegan items. In response to increased consumer demand and the industry trend toward cage-free, we look forward to making this swift transition."

In response to an increasing number of customers requesting cage-free eggs, Brookshire Grocery Company will transition to a 100 percent cage-free egg supply chain by 2025. The company will work with current suppliers during this transition in a way that ensures eggs are safely produced and affordably priced for all of its customers. 

Brookshire Grocery Company was established in 1928 and now operates three brands—Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods and FRESH by Brookshire’s. All of the 152 stores within these brands partner closely with their local communities and are committed to providing the highest quality products at the best possible value.

SpartanNash, Gelson's Markets and Brookshire Grocery Company join retailers like Walmart, Meijer, Raley's, Weis Markets, Ingles Markets, Bashas’ Supermarkets, Supervalu, Kroger and Kings Food Markets who have made the commitment to cage-free egg supplies.