Target’s cage-free promise signals a new standard for retailers
- Target says suppliers of its meat, eggs, and dairy products must follow updated animal welfare standards.
- The company renewed its cage-free egg commitment and says it plans to reach 100% cage-free eggs by 2030.
- More than 600 Target stores already sell only cage-free eggs. Starting in 2026, the company plans to expand that shift to at least 500 more stores.
- Target joins other grocery giants, including Ahold Delhaize, in taking new steps for animals.
Target says suppliers of its meat, eggs, and dairy products must meet its updated standards for animals.
The policy reflects a broader shift among major retailers, as animal protection becomes a more public issue in corporate supply chains.
Renewed commitment against cages
Target says more than 600 of its stores already sell only cage-free eggs, and that more than half of its egg sales already come from suppliers that do not use cages for hens.
Starting in 2026, the company says it will expand that shift to at least 500 more stores as part of its plan to reach 100% cage-free compliance by 2030.
It also says cage-free options will be easier to spot through signs, online labels, and updated packaging, and that it will continue sharing public progress reports.
Reducing cruelty across the supply chain
Following a commitment first made in 2012, Target says it has removed cages for pregnant pigs from its supply chain.
Target has also stated that suppliers should reduce painful practices such as dehorning, tail docking, and castration, and use pain relief while those practices are being phased out.
The company claims that animals raised for meat must be stunned before slaughter to reduce pain. Stunning is meant to make animals unconscious, though it does not always work as intended.
Still, the updated policy makes clear that Target plans to keep moving forward on its public commitments for animals.
Pressure grows on retailers
Target joins other grocery giants in reducing some of the most common forms of cruelty in the food system.
Ahold Delhaize–parent company of Stop & Shop, Giant, Food Lion, and Hannaford–recently renewed its cage-free commitment and published an updated timeline. This followed a year-long global campaign that included protests at its headquarters in the Netherlands.
Together, these moves reflect a changing retail landscape, as more grocery companies respond to consumer concerns for animals.
FOSTER COMPASSION
As a mother capable of empathy, a hen will defend her chicks at all costs.
Support a mother’s love by replacing eggs in your meals with plant‑based alternatives.
