Sainsbury’s Launches Industry-First Egg Farmer Support Group to Ensure Future Resilience and Sustainability

Sainsbury’s Launches Industry-First Egg Farmer Support Group to Ensure Future Resilience and Sustainability

(IN BRIEF) Sainsbury’s has launched the Sainsbury’s Egg Group, an industry-first initiative designed to support over 100 UK egg farmers by ensuring financial stability, promoting sustainable practices, and improving animal welfare. The group will guarantee that farmers receive at least the cost of production for their eggs, encouraging future investments. It also emphasizes environmental responsibility, with farmers committing to carbon reduction efforts. This initiative builds on Sainsbury’s history of innovation in the egg industry, including its shift to 100% cage-free eggs and support for free-range farming.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 29-Aug-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — In a pioneering move, Sainsbury’s has announced the creation of the Sainsbury’s Egg Group, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to support UK egg farmers by providing financial stability and promoting sustainable practices. This group, set to launch next month, will collaborate with over 100 egg farmers and the retailer’s three main egg packers to safeguard the future of egg production amidst rising challenges in the industry.

As part of this initiative, Sainsbury’s has committed to paying farmers the cost of production or higher, ensuring financial security in a volatile market. This approach is expected to encourage farmers to invest in advancements and maintain high standards of production. Additionally, the group will focus on continuous improvement in animal welfare by facilitating the sharing of data and insights among farmers, echoing the success seen in Sainsbury’s long-standing Dairy Development Group.

The initiative also emphasizes environmental responsibility, with participating farmers committing to carbon reduction efforts and undergoing annual carbon footprint assessments. Many farmers have already begun adopting sustainable practices, such as reducing soy in feed and incorporating renewable energy solutions.

Gavin Hodgson, Sainsbury’s Director of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Horticulture, highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating, “Our new Sainsbury’s Egg Group is designed to help farmers navigate the challenges of rising production costs and sustainability goals, ensuring the continued supply of high-quality eggs for our customers.”

Gillian Potter, an egg farmer from North Yorkshire, expressed her support for the initiative, noting that the group provides peace of mind by guaranteeing a fair return for their efforts, enabling them to plan for future investments.

Sainsbury’s has a strong history of innovation in the egg industry, having become the first major retailer to stock 100% cage-free eggs in 2009. Since 2020, all eggs sold under the Sainsbury’s brand have been free range, with a portion of sales supporting tree planting projects through the Woodland Trust.

Media Contact:

email: press_office@sainsburys.co.uk

SOURCE: Sainsbury