July 10, 2026
 

Three Philippine retail chains complete cage-free egg transition as sector sets timeline for full shift

Seven of 23 retailers evaluated have now set a deadline for ending caged egg sales, with major grocery groups progressively raising their cage-free share.

Three Philippine retail chains have completed a full transition to cage-free egg sourcing, while seven of 23 leading retail brands assessed have committed to a timeline for ending caged egg sales entirely, according to the 2026 Philippine Retailer Industry Cage-Free Egg Progress Report released by international NGO Lever Foundation.

Heyday, Healthy Options and FreshStart have each shifted to 100% cage-free egg sourcing across all stores. E-commerce retailer MetroMart follows with 90% of its egg range now cage-free. EveGrocer, operating across Metro Manila and Cebu, has raised its cage-free share to 50% and committed to reaching 100% by 2028.

Among larger format retailers, METRO Retail - which operates more than 70 stores across Metro Manila, Luzon and Visayas - has reached 26% cage-free eggs across its egg brands and set a target of 100% by 2033. SM Retail, whose portfolio includes Walter Mart, SM Supermarket and Alfamart, has transitioned 20% to 40% of egg SKUs to cage-free as the group develops a broader sourcing policy.

The Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards introduced animal welfare guidelines for cage-free egg production in 2020, providing a regulatory framework for the transition. Peer-reviewed research cited in the report suggests well-managed cage-free systems can reduce the risk of Salmonella contamination relative to conventional caged housing.

Robyn Del Rosario, sustainability programme lead at Lever Foundation, said the shift reflects growing recognition among retailers that animal welfare and food safety are becoming baseline commercial requirements rather than discretionary commitments.

- Manila Standard