Encouragingly, the average cage-free transition rate has reached 85%, marking a significant increase from 75% reported in the last Global EggTrack in 2023. To date, more than 160 million laying hens are benefitting from being cage-free each year (based on data from 117 commitments), demonstrating the real-world impact of corporate commitments.

Nearly 30% of businesses (168) are now fully cage-free across all egg categories in their supply, with 71 companies achieving this milestone since 2023, including Compass Group UK&IRE, Caffè Nero, Greggs, The Restaurant Group plc, and Tesco UK.

However, with the 2025 deadline now reached, the data also highlights a critical gap between commitments and delivery. Of the 415 commitments due in 2025 just 48% (198) have been fulfilled. While many companies have fallen short of their target, 29% of missed 2025 commitments are at least three-quarters of the way to completion, indicating significant progress towards full compliance. But 217 commitments remain unmet, including 80 with no updated reporting at all, including Mars (Global), Sonic Drive in (US), Dunkin Brands Inc (US), and Aldi Sud (Global).

Companies lagging behind must accelerate progress

Of the 852 commitments tracked, 61 have pushed back their deadlines - although 21 of these have published revised timelines toward full compliance.

Even more disappointingly, 29 businesses have removed their deadlines (but retained their commitment), while 50 have withdrawn their cage-free pledges entirely, including Spar (UK & IRE), Prezzo Restaurants (UK & IRE), Bidfood (EU & NZ), Unilever (Global), Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (Global), and Metro AG (Global).

Europe leads the way on cage-free progress

For the commitments included in EggTrack, Europe continues to lead with an average cage-free transition of 94% (from 377 commitments), up from 80% in 2023. This progress is supported by a mature market and an evolving legislative landscape, with proposals to ban cages for laying hens in Europe expected by the end of 2026.

Global commitments have also advanced, with the average cage-free transition rising from 64% in 2023, to 79% in 2025 (from 117 companies). Twelve global companies, are fully cage-free across all their egg categories, including five that achieved full transition since the 2023 Global EggTrack: Pizza Express (Restaurants) Limited, Caffè Nero, The Cheesecake Factory, IKEA Food, Conagra Brands, Inc.

USA and Canada continue to make moderate progress, reaching 81% average cage-free transition in 2025 (from 116 commitments), compared to 73% in 2023 for the US market alone. Progress in the Asia-Pacific region has plateaued at 58% (slight increase from 55% in 2023).

Retailers achieve highest cage-free transition

Retailers lead the way with the highest transition of 93% (up from 77% in 2023), closely followed by the Restaurant sector at 90% (up from 77% in 2023).

Progress among Manufacturers has slowed, rising only slightly to 85% (from 83% in 2023), while the Food service and Hospitality sector continues to lag behind at 68% (from 65% in 2023). Producers with a cage-free commitment assessed in EggTrack increased their transition from 71% in 2023 to 93% this year.

UK demonstrates strong progress on cage-free eggs

The UK continues to perform well, with an average cage-free transition of 97% across 71 reporting commitments. However, only 31 of the 49 companies tracked have successfully completed their cage-free transition across all egg categories.

In the retail sector, Aldi UK, Lidl GB and Tesco UK have now achieved 100% cage-free status, joining Waitrose, M&S, Co-op and Sainsbury’s who met their commitments prior to 2025.

ASDA has reached full cage-free sourcing across its own-brand shell eggs and egg products but is urged to move to cage-free branded shell eggs in line with its competitors.

Meanwhile Morrisons continues to make progress, achieving 100% for shell eggs and 92% for egg products.

However, progress is not universal. Iceland has delayed its deadline to 2027 without reporting on its progress for 2025, while SPAR (UK) has removed its public commitment altogether, and Compassion calls on the company to urgently reinstate a clear, time-bound pledge.

The two UK producers included in EggTrack, Noble Foods and LJ Fairburn & Son, have extended their deadlines to 2026 but are close to completion, reaching 95% and 89% cage-free production respectively.

Missed commitments highlight the need for urgent action

EggTrack 2025 highlights both meaningful progress and a clear need for urgent action. While many companies have met their commitments, too many have missed deadlines, weakened pledges or withdrawn them entirely, undermining accountability and falling short of consumer expectations.

Companies failing to meet their commitments risk falling out of step with consumer expectations, global market trends, and a rapidly evolving legislative landscape that increasingly favours cage-free production. Without swift action, these businesses face growing reputational and commercial risks.

Compassion urges all companies that have missed their 2025 deadline to take swift action to complete their transition in 2026. Companies that have dropped their commitments must urgently reinstate them, publish clear and time-bound transition plans, and report transparently on their progress.

Dr Tracey Jones, Global Director of Food Business, commented:

EggTrack 2025 marks a defining moment for corporate cage-free commitments. Businesses continue to lead the way, particularly in Europe, but strong legislation is essential to level the playing field, ensuring the whole industry delivers a cage-free future.

Companies falling behind must act now with urgency to progress towards their commitment deadlines and those that have dropped commitments must reinstate them immediately. With legislative momentum building and the rising global trend towards cage-free, companies have a clear opportunity—and responsibility—to turn promises into action and consign cages to the history books for good.

The path forward is clear: delivering on cage-free commitments is essential not only for animal welfare, but for maintaining credibility and competitiveness in a changing food system.

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[1] Some companies operate multiple national entities under a single corporate group (e.g., Carrefour France and Carrefour Poland are separate entities of the same company). Each entity sets and reports on its own commitments to cage-free so our EggTrack analysis refers to entities rather than companies. Global entities are reported as companies.

EggTrack Signals Cage-free Progress, But Laggards Must Act Fast