Aramark has announced that it is extending its 100 percent cage-free egg commitment worldwide by 2025, including liquid and shell eggs.

Operating in 19 countries, Aramark purchases over 300 million eggs annually. In the US, the company's largest market, Aramark has been serving 100 percent cage-free shell eggs since 2015 and is transitioning to 100 percent cage-free liquid eggs by 2020.

Aramark's global cage-free egg commitment builds upon its animal welfare policy, established in 2015, requiring suppliers to establish animal welfare protocols that prevents mistreatment from confinement, painful procedures and rapid growth.

The company's cage-free eggs decision follows its industry pioneering move in 2016 to improve the treatment of broiler chickens.

Rachel Dreskin, U.S. Head of Food Business at Compassion said: "Aramark's announcement to take their cage-free commitment worldwide will impact the lives of almost a million hens each year and illustrates the company's continued dedication to farm animal welfare. It also emphasises that the tidal wave of change coming for laying hens is not limited by geographical borders."

Aramark recently published an Animal Welfare Progress Report highlighting the company's ongoing advancement of responsible sourcing and animal welfare goals.

"We are unwavering in our commitment to work with suppliers and animal welfare organisations to advance responsible sourcing practices across our global supply chain," said Scott Barnhart, Aramark's Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain and Procurement.

"We are pleased that Aramark's cage-free egg learnings in the U.S. are being applied to address the remaining portion of our total egg purchases around the world."

The company received a Good Egg Award from Compassion in World Farming in 2016 for its commitment to cage-free eggs in the U.S.

Aramark's cage-free egg policy goes global