Iceland had previously committed to ending the sale of eggs from caged hens by the close of 2025. However, it rescinded this pledge in May, following protests from The Humane League UK.
At that time, the retailer emphasized the need to prioritize “essentials on the table” during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, which it claimed warranted a delay in its transition to selling exclusively cage-free eggs.
Since that announcement, Iceland has initiated piloting the sale of RSPCA Assured barn eggs in 35 UK stores. Now, the company has committed to exclusively offering cage-free eggs within the next two years.
Stuart Lendrum, Iceland’s director of product, process, and sustainability, remarked on this development: “We’ve always been honest about the challenge of balancing improved animal welfare with the urgent need to help families through the cost-of-living crisis. That’s why we never stopped offering free-range eggs, and why we introduced barn eggs as an affordable additional higher welfare option.”
“After months of collaboration with our suppliers, we’re pleased to announce a new timeline that will drive investment and increase capacity in British barn egg production, facilitating our transition to cage-free by June 2027. This route will protect both affordability and animal welfare, reflecting our ‘Doing it Right’ commitment in action.”
“We value constructive engagement, but we also have a responsibility to our customers. This plan effectively addresses both aspects.”
According to the retailer, Iceland ranks as the fourth largest seller of caged eggs in the UK, reporting a nearly 15% decline in sales for these products over the past year.
To facilitate the transition from now until 2027, Iceland will introduce an “affordable higher welfare barn egg” option in all its stores by January 2026.
In related developments, Iceland disclosed plans to revise its prawn sourcing policy in response to animal welfare activists’ demands.
Iceland has committed to phasing out the use of eyestalk ablation in its own-label prawn supply chain by the end of 2027, opting instead for electrical stunning methods.
