Marks & Spencer
UK
260 million eggs sold and used
963,000 hens benefited per year
In 2002, Marks & Spencer, one of the UK’s best known retailers and renowned for its high quality food products, was the first to take the major step of committing to only selling 100% free-range eggs - from its shell eggs to the eggs used as ingredients in any products it sells. Marks & Spencer’s 100% own brand policy means that it has complete control over every food product it sells, including those sold in its in-store Café Revives, enabling it to make this level of commitment to a complete free-range egg policy. Today Marks & Spencer remains the only major UK retailer to have been able to achieve 100% free-range status.
Marks & Spencer is the winner of our 2007 Compassionate Supermarket of the Year. Find out more at our supermarket survey website. It is a pioneer of UK cage-free retailing and we recognise their commitment to being the leaders on all things ethical, including animal welfare.
We are also celebrating Marks and Spencer for its Café Revive outlets in the Czech Rep which only sell products made from free-range eggs.
Have a look at Marks & Spencer’s Plan A to find out more about why they are leading the field on sustainable sourcing.
"Marks & Spencer made the move to be totally free-range on both shell eggs and as an ingredient because we are committed to producing the highest quality food in the most compassionate way - our move to free-range is a testament to our total commitment to the highest standards of animal welfare. Our original decision to move to 100% free-range in 2002 was driven by our customers, who we know are increasingly interested in how food is produced and the welfare of animals. We are delighted to be the recipient of a CIWF Good Egg Award as this is a further endorsement of our free-range policy, backing up the very positive feedback we have had from our customers."
Mark Ranson, Senior Technologist, Meat and Poultry Category
"In September 1997, Marks & Spencer was the first UK food retailer to sell only 100% free-range shell eggs. This landmark initiative was a direct response to concerns from our customers about laying hen welfare and a demonstration of our business’ passion and commitment to ensuring high standards of animal welfare in the production of all the livestock used for the our foods.
"In 2002 we achieved our goal – all Marks & Spencer eggs, whether fresh in-shell or used as an ingredient in our foods, were free-range.
"Marks & Spencer is very proud to have been the first retailer to develop a Leading Standards position with the introduction of our 100% free-range policy. This is backed up in our customers’ feedback, which has been extremely positive. It is clear our customers are happy knowing they can buy any of our food products with complete confidence that if egg is an ingredient, it is from a free-range hen."
Guy Farrant, Food Director