Sainsbury's launches support group for egg farmers

Poached, fried or scrambled; whichever way enjoyed, eggs are one of the nation’s most popular foods with 11 billion consumed annually.

As one of Sainsbury’s top 20 selling products, the retailer has announced a brand new development group to support its egg farmers and protect the supply of this popular protein for years to come.

An industry first, the Sainsbury’s Egg Group - launching next month - will be in collaboration with the retailer’s three main egg packers and will include over 100 farmers from across the UK who supply it with eggs.

Through this, Sainsbury’s will take a leadership position on pay for egg farmers by making a commitment to always pay the cost of production or above for eggs. This hopes to provide financial reassurance in a volatile market, giving farmers the confidence to invest in future business advancements. It also lays the foundation for better communication and alignment on decisions, driving improvement for both farmers and customers.

Building on the progress that has been made by Sainsbury’s move to free range eggs, the group will be supported to drive continuous improvement in animal welfare. One example of this is through the sharing of data and insights between farms, helping to facilitate learnings. The retailer has worked in a similar way with its Dairy Development Group for over 15 years, significantly improving cow health, producing, on average, an extra 1000 litres of milk each year.

As well as continuing to meet Sainsbury’s high standards, one of the requests for those signing up to the group is a commitment to carbon reduction in their production and an annual carbon footprint assessment. Supported by the retailer, many farmers involved have already started making progress themselves such as reducing soy in feed and replacing with alternatives like maize and making moves towards renewable energy, including the use of solar panels and heat pumps.

Gavin Hodgson, Director of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Horticulture at Sainsbury’s, said: “We know how important eggs are for our customers but we’re also aware of the challenges facing egg farmers, such as increased production costs and sustainability targets.

“We’re proud of our history in innovating and supporting the egg industry and our strong relationships with suppliers is the key to making change. Last year we moved from one year to five year partnerships with our egg supply base to give them confidence in their businesses. The new Sainsbury’s Egg Group aims to further support farmers, helping shift to more sustainable and resilient production.”

Gillian Potter, Egg Farmer from North Yorkshire, said: “Sainsburys new aligned producer group gives us the peace of mind that we can expect to receive a fair return for our eggs. It also allows us to consider and plan for future investment.”

In 2009 Sainsbury’s became the first major retailer to stock 100% cage-free eggs and in 2012 became 100% cage free for all eggs used as ingredients in products. Since 2020, all by Sainsbury’s eggs have been free range, laid by hens free to roam and forage in woodlands. The retailer donates 1p for every dozen free range eggs sold to the Woodland Trust to fund tree planting projects throughout the UK.