UK’s largest supermarket completes switch to cage-free eggs

However, due to avian influenza in Central Europe and other market challenges, there was still some work still to do.

The report said: “December 2025 saw the deadline for a number of our animal welfare and sustainable sourcing commitments. 100% of our shell eggs and our ingredient eggs for Tesco UK and ROI are now sourced from cage-free hens. This commitment will now be incorporated into our sourcing policy for eggs. Due to market challenges in Hungary and Slovakia, and avian influenza challenges in Booker’s catering supply chain, we fell short of achieving our shell egg commitments in Central Europe and Booker.”

The report added that 97% of the company’s key suppliers now report animal welfare outcome measures across the UK and ROI, which aids Tesco’s insight into animal welfare and where improvements can be made.

Higher welfare standards

Speaking to specialist media, a Tesco spokesperson said the company was committed to taking action to enhance animal welfare: “Animal welfare is extremely important to us and we’re committed to continually raising standards while supporting Britain’s poultry farmers. Alongside meeting our cage-free commitments across own-brand eggs in the UK, all of our fresh chicken is British and we continue to work closely with UK farmers to ensure it meets higher welfare requirements.”

Tesco added that the firm was now exceeding government standards by providing birds with 20% more space than the industry norm.

“Our approach not only strengthens British agriculture but also helps drive improvements in welfare across the wider poultry sector, ensuring our customers continue to enjoy high quality, responsibly sourced chicken and eggs at great value.”

Call for import ban on caged eggs

Animal welfare group Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) welcomed the move, saying many UK food businesses now recognised that consumers wanted cage-free eggs, with a large number of companies now fully compliant or well on their way.

CIWF called on the government to protect British farmers transitioning to cage-free by banning the import of caged eggs and ensuring that cage free production became the baseline standard across the UK.