Operations

Pokeworks sourcing eggs from cage-free hens

An egg laying hen raised in a battery cage in a typical factory farm environment. Provided.

July 25, 2022

Pokeworks is pledging to source 100% of its eggs and egg products from cage-free sources for all of its operations, removing battery cages from its supply chain.

This policy is set to benefit egg-laying hens raised for Pokeworks' 65 restaurants, with 20 locations opening this year, according to a press release.

The commitment to improve the welfare of egg-laying hens comes within 45 days of the launch of a public campaign led by The Open Wing Alliance, a global coalition of 80 major animal protection organizations in 63 countries. Thousands of supporters around the world took hundreds of thousands of digital actions urging the company to go cage-free.

"Pokeworks is proud to partner with The Open Wing Alliance on improving animal welfare. We're committed to using only cage-free eggs in all of our products by the end of 2023," Steve Heeley, CEO of Pokeworks, said in the release. "This important step aligns with Pokeworks' core value of sustainability and supports our mindful guests' desire for transparency in our premium food sourcing."

"Pkeworks' pledge will reduce the suffering of egg-laying hens raised around the world, said Hannah Surowinski, global corporate relations coordinator of The Open Wing Alliance.

"With more companies taking steps towards improving animal welfare, it's clear cage-free is the new standard of the food industry," she said in the release.

As consumer demand for cage-free eggs grows, companies like Pokeworks are abandoning cages around the world. Over 2,880 cage-free commitments, 100 of which are global, have been made by the world's largest companies, including Burger King, Dunkin', Nestlé, Aldi, Kraft Heinz and Shake Shack, according to the release.