Slovenian retailers E.Leclerc, Eurospin and Spar Slovenija will gradually phase out the sale of eggs sourced from caged chickens in the country. The move comes after a campaign by the Animal Protection Society and the Danas Institute.
According to a report by RTV Slovenije, the campaign collected 13,496 signatures from the end of March to mid-April this year, calling on traders to refrain from purchasing eggs from battery cages.
Eurospin will fulfil the obligation by the end of August this year, and E.Leclerc will stop sales by 2020. In addition, the latter plans to sell all eggs under its private-label brand by 2025. Local news agency STA reported that Spar Slovenija will no longer have eggs from battery rearing on its shelves by the end of 2020.
Divided Opinion
The petition was sent to the management boards of several retail chains, like Mercator, Spar Slovenija, Engrotuš, Jagros, Eurospin Eco and Rudnidis, which manages the E.Leclerc stores.
Mercator pointed out that it is prepared to discuss the issue 'in professional circles, with the participation of all interested parties,' while retail chains Tus and Jager did not respond.
Last year, Hofer and Lidl stopped selling eggs sourced from crammed battery cages, where around 13 chickens are kept in a one-square-metre area.
According to Slovenia’s largest egg-maker, Jata Emona, the chicken-rearing methods do not affect the nutritional value of eggs in any way, and it is only influenced by the animal's health and nutrition.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
