The Humane League Marks Major Win As Ahold Delhaize Advances Cage-Free Sourcing For Hens And Pigs

Commitment from one of the world’s largest food retailers sets a new benchmark for accountability in the traditionally slow-to-change grocery sector.

Public commitments matter, and it’s encouraging to see companies like Ahold Delhaize taking meaningful steps to meet them. Consumers are paying attention, and accountability drives real progress.”

— Dan Shannon, CEO of The Humane League

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, March 4, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Humane League (THL), a global nonprofit working to end the abuse of animals raised for food, today marked a major victory in its corporate accountability campaign as Ahold Delhaize formally agrees to source from suppliers that have phased out cages, alongside a commitment to annual public reporting to maintain transparency and accountability.

We recognize the many organizations in the US and globally whose sustained campaign efforts made this agreement possible. This milestone represents a significant breakthrough in the movement to eliminate battery cages, one of the most extreme forms of confinement in animal agriculture, and demonstrates Ahold Delhaize’s renewed commitment to align its sourcing practices with widely accepted animal welfare standards.

“This plan sets a strong example for the retail sector,” said Dan Shannon, CEO of The Humane League. “Public commitments matter, and it’s encouraging to see companies like Ahold Delhaize taking meaningful steps to meet them. Consumers are paying attention, and accountability drives real progress.”

Ahold Delhaize is one of the largest grocery operators in the United States, with Food Lion representing nearly half of its US store footprint, and banners that include: Stop & Shop, Hannaford, Giant Food, and The GIANT Company. As part of its renewed commitment, Ahold Delhaize will track progress against semi-annual cage-free benchmarks and publish annual updates. The company is also expanding clear on-shelf signage across all banners to encourage customers to choose cage-free eggs.

This commitment will not only benefit the over five million hens in Ahold’s supply chain, but also set a new standard for transparency. We encourage other major retailers, including Kroger and Target, to follow their lead.

The Humane League will continue to monitor Ahold Delhaize’s implementation of its cage-free transition and publish updates on the company’s progress. To learn more, donate, or take action for animals, visit TheHumaneLeague.org.

About The Humane League
The Humane League is a global animal protection nonprofit that exists to end the abuse of animals raised for food. Since its founding in 2005, The Humane League has focused on effectively ending the worst abuses in factory farming, securing strong animal welfare commitments from major foodservice providers, restaurants, food manufacturers, and hospitality leaders around the world, changing the lives of billions of farm animals suffering every day.

Karen Hirsch
The Humane League
+1 678-469-8675
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