Woolworths receives international Good Egg Award

© idildemir - Fotolia.com

In response to customer concerns, Woolworths was South Africa's first retailer to make the switch to selling exclusively free-range eggs in cartons and remains the only retailer to do so, after nearly a decade.

In 2011, one of its main egg suppliers invested R20 million in a new specialised facility and farm, the first of its kind in the country, dedicated to producing pasteurised liquid egg (used in food products) from free-range eggs. The retailer sources 120 million eggs every year, approximately half of which are sold in cartons, while the remainder are pasteurised liquid eggs used in its food products. Currently over 75% of its food products containing egg as an ingredient are made with free-range eggs and the percentage continues to rise each year.

Commenting on the award, Compassion CEO Philip Lymbery said, "I am pleased to be able to congratulate the company in this way. Farm animal welfare is rising up the agenda across the world, and with this award, we're recognising the leading role it is playing in Africa to secure better conditions for laying hens. The Good Egg Award is a sign to its customers that their animal welfare concerns are taken seriously and the nearly half a million hens that produce their eggs are raised to higher welfare standards."

Zyda Rylands, Woolworths MD of Food said, "We are proud because this award recognises our commitment to animal welfare and ethical sourcing. Our work with free-range eggs, informed by ongoing consultation and engagement with animal welfare organisations, is only one aspect of the company's Good Business Journey.

"Animal welfare remains a key area of concern for both the company and our customers and we are constantly committed to improving all aspects of animal health and welfare including livestock management and husbandry, housing, animal feed, farm hygiene, environment and transport. For instance, it is also actively working on wildlife-friendly farming and more humane pig farming."

Previous Good Egg Award winners include Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's (second biggest supermarket in the UK), Iglo Foods Group (Europe's leading branded frozen food business), Kaufland (a large German retailer with over 1000 supermarkets in Germany and Eastern Europe), Globus SB Warenhaus (a leading trading company in Germany) and French supermarket chain Monoprix. Australian retailer Coles also received Good Egg Award last year.