EggTrack

eggtrack logo

EggTrack

EggTrack continues to measure and propel the transition to cage-free eggs, highlighting leaders in this space, motivating those who have fallen behind, and reinforcing the need for ongoing improvement and transparency as companies work towards their common goal of being 100% cage free.

The tool is designed for food companies, industry stakeholders, investors, conscious consumers, as well as those responsible for the day-to-day decision-making and implementation processes needed to achieve cage-free production.

It aims to support producers and purchasers alike, encouraging positive and meaningful dialogue on sourcing and delivering cage-free eggs at a national, regional and global level.

Market Data by Country

The following chart illustrates current market trends for egg production in the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Poland. Notably, 77% of the UK egg market has already transitioned to cage-free systems, demonstrating significant progress driven by companies leading the shift towards higher welfare practices.

EggTrack 2024 Spotlight (UK, France, Italy, Spain and Poland)

As 2025 approaches, marking the looming deadline for many companies to complete their cage-free transitions, Compassion is providing in-country company Spotlights for EggTrack 2024, covering the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Poland. In the USA and Canada, we are creating a standard EggTrack report which will include the usual key metrics, updates on cage-free egg progress by featured companies and industry insight.

EggTrack 2024 Spotlight aims to clearly show how companies are progressing with their commitments. It identifies which companies are ‘Leading’ the industry (already 100% cage-free), which are ‘In Progress’ (on track to reach 100% by 2025), which are ‘At Risk’ (of missing the 2025 deadline), and which are ‘Laggards’ (have a commitment but not reporting).

 

Methodology

EggTrack 2024 Spotlight focuses on companies that have 2025 cage-free commitment deadlines, categorizing them as follows:

Egg Categories

Egg Categories

Egg category denotes the type of egg that a company has committed to sourcing from cage-free systems.

Read more

Egg category denotes the type of egg that a company has committed to sourcing from cage-free :

  • Shell Eggs: include whole, raw eggs with the shell unbroken.

  • Egg Products: include processed and convenient forms of eggs, including liquid, frozen, dried and pre-cooked products.
    - Liquid: includes broken eggs where the yolk and white could be separated or blended (other ingredients may also be added to the liquid).
    - Processed: includes egg products where egg is either the only or primary product, such as (but not limited to) dried egg mix, egg white solids, egg yolk solids, whole egg solids, scrambled egg mix, pre-cooked egg patties and hard-boiled / sliced eggs.
  • Egg Ingredient: includes products containing eggs as an ingredient that may be purchased by a company from a third party, such as baked goods, prepared foods (e.g., muffins, cakes, pasta etc.)
  • Combined: Where companies report a combined percentage for multiple, specified egg categories, we categorise that reporting as combined. Additionally, if companies don’t specify egg type in their commitment, they will also be categorised as ‘Combined’.

 

In addition to these four categories, certain companies have been categorised as having ‘No Commitment’. This is recorded when a company with global operations has committed only at regional level, and similarly if a company has regional operations but has only committed at national level. We report this to encourage companies to make these large-scale commitments through the whole of their supply.

Region & Sector Differences

Region & Sector Differences

In different regions, egg category definitions mean slightly different things.

Read more

In different regions, the above egg category definitions can mean slightly different things. For example, European “Egg Product” commitments made by Retailers and Manufacturers are understood to include all egg ingredients. This ranges from those purchased by the company for use in their own products/meals, or for sale to the end customer as egg products (i.e., scrambled egg mix, dried egg whites, sugared egg yolks, etc.), to those used in the manufacturing of products purchased from third parties for use in the company’s own operations (i.e., mayonnaise, muffins, cakes, pasta, etc.).

At a global level and in other regions (US, APAC) to include only those egg ingredients that are purchased by the company for use in their own products/meals, or for sale to the end customer as egg products (i.e., scrambled egg mix, dried egg whites, sugared egg yolks, etc.), unless otherwise specified. This understanding also applies to European “Egg Product” commitments made by Restaurants and Food Service & Hospitality companies.

Brand Category Definitions

Brand Category Definitions

The following definitions apply to Shell Eggs in the Retailers & Meal Kits Category only.

Read more

The following definitions apply to Shell Eggs in the Retailers & Meal Kits Category only:

  • Branded: Everything that is sold under an industry name.
  • Own-Brand: Brands directly owned by the retailers including tertiary and no name brands.
  • Overall: Both own-brand and branded shell eggs

EggTrack 2023

EggTrack 2023 showed an average 75% transition to cage free across 715 commitments worldwide. Among the companies featured in EggTrack 2023, 79 operate globally, 274 in Europe (including the UK), 134 in the USA and 23 in the Asia-Pacific region. These companies span various sectors, with 51 manufacturers, 195 retailers & meal kit providers, 111 restaurants, 13 producers and 74 food service and hospitality companies. Many of them have pledged to source 100% cage-free eggs from their supply chain by 2025 or 2026.