BOGOTA, Colombia—Crepes & Waffles, Colombia’s leading restaurant company, with approximately 165 locations, announced its commitment to source exclusively cage-free eggs (shell and processed) by 2025. This policy follows discussions with Humane Society International and other animal protection organizations.

In Colombia, approximately 75 percent of egg-laying hens are confined in wire battery cages, so small the birds can barely move or stretch their wings. Cage-free systems generally offer higher animal welfare compared to caged systems. Hens housed in cage-free settings are able to walk, stretch their wings and lay their eggs in nests, in addition to performing other important natural behaviors that are denied to animals confined for their whole lives in cages.

Elissa Lane, deputy director of HSI Farm Animals, stated: “We congratulate Crepes & Waffles for improving animal welfare in its supply chain by joining the global cage-free egg movement. By pledging to use only cage-free eggs, Crepes & Waffles is helping millions of hens in Colombia who will be spared a life of suffering in cruel cages. We look forward to continuing to work with Crepes & Waffles during the transition period, and invite other Colombian companies to join this quickly growing corporate social responsibility movement.”

More than 30 companies have joined this cage-free egg initiative in Colombia and Latin America, including Pan Pa’ Ya, Hoteles Estelar, Grupo Bimbo, Alsea, Arcos Dorados, Burger King, Compass Group, Accor Hotels, Sodexo, Kraft Heinz, International Meal Company and Nestlé.