Cage-free eggs coming to A&W and Chick-fil-A

Mar 15, 2016

List of establishments transitioning to cage-free eggs continues to grow

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

Consumers increasingly are asking where their food comes from. And farmers are adapting to meet new demands.

Recently, different restaurant chains have vowed to transition to cage-free eggs and two more just joined the list - A&W and Chick-fil-A.

A&W’s mission to make the change to cage-free eggs in Canada could be an ambitious one as the restaurant wants to have the transition done within two years.

Chick-fil-A and AW

In an attempt to make the process more efficient, A&W is providing Farm & Food Care Canada with a $100,000 grant to explore research with veterinarians, farmers, suppliers and others.

In a press release, Susan Senecal, President and Chief Operating Officer of A&W Food Services Canada, said the investment is trying to tackle the lack of viable cage-free options that meet A&W’s standards; in the same release, Dr. John Church, PhD, Natural Resource Science at Thompson Rivers University, said Canada has an opportunity to be a world leader when it comes to improving the health and welfare of laying hens.

Chick-fil-A's plan is to source 100 per cent cage-free eggs within the United States by 2026.

"With the majority of the egg industry currently relying on conventional hen houses, the transition to a new, cage-free system that can reliably and safely supply nationwide brands will take time,” said Rob Dugas, chief procurement officer and vice president of supply chain for Chick-fil-A in a press release.

“However, Chick-fil-A takes the transition seriously and has put in place a process to see the transition through."

Industry Overhaul
Earlier in the year, Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC) announced an industry-wide initiative to end egg production in conventional housing.

EFC estimates nearly 90 per cent of egg production is done in conventional housing and that by 2036, all production could be done in an enriched, free-run, aviary, or free-range environment.

Other establishments that have announced a transition to cage-free eggs include Tim Horton’s, Burger King, Starbucks, McDonald’s and various grocery stores.

Video: Will the 2025 USDA December Crop Report Be a Market Mover/Surprise?

Historically, the USDA December crop report is a non-event or another dud report as the USDA reserves any final supply changes to the final report in January of the following year in this case 2026. But after the longest U.S. government shutdown in history at 43 days and no October crop report will they provide more data/surprise and make an exception?
Our China U.S. soybean purchase tracker is now at 26.6% or a total of 3.2 mmt but for traders it’s taking too long to unfold.
The final Stats Canada production report was bearish canola and wheat projection a record crop in both (it adds to the global glut of supplies) and bullish local corn and soybean prices in Ontario/Quebec thanks to a drought. It will not help the fund flow short-term, the USDA may need to offset it?
A U.S. Fed interest rate cut of another 25-basis point next Wednesday (probability 87.1%) could help fund flow and sentiment in stock and ag commodities into year end.
More inflows into Bitcoin this past week saw prices rebound back above 90,000 with support at 82,000 and resistance at 96,000.
A V-shaped bottom in cattle suggest the lows are in after Mexico reported another new world screwworm case. Lower weights, seasonal demand and higher U.S. beef select/choice values with a continued closure of the Mexican border to cattle will result in a resumption of higher cattle futures into yearend.
Australia is expected to produce its 3rd largest wheat crop ever at 36 mmt adding to the global glut of supplies.
Reports of ASF in hogs in Spain the largest pork exporter in Europe could see the U.S. win more pork export business long-term.
If the rains verify into next week of 3-5 inches for Brazil it would go a long way to fixing the dry regions from the last 2-months, but the European weather model has been wrong for the past 2-months!
Natural gas futures are surging to the 3rd price count as frigid hold temps set in.
CDN $ is also surging to end the week on a very resilient economy and better employment numbers suggesting no interest rate cuts next week.
Finally, the CFTC report showed funds were net buyers of soybeans but sellers of corn, canola and wheat. In real time the funds have gone back to selling as they take some profits.