Update: As of September 2023, Bann Ying Family has published that it no longer buys eggs from caged hens.

BANGKOK, Thailand—Restaurant group Baan Ying Family adopted a new animal welfare policy to use 100% free-range organic eggs. The group runs six restaurant brands including Baan Ying, Baan Ying Plant Based, Uma Uma, Cosmos Café, Isaa Isaan and Fatt Chicken.

In Thailand, the majority of the 95.8 million hens kept for egg production spend their entire lives in wire cages smaller than an A4-sized sheet of paper, preventing them from spreading their wings or taking more than a single step. In these battery cage systems, hens are unable to express important natural behavior, including nesting, perching and dustbathing, all of which are possible in cage-free systems. The policy builds on a 2019 commitment and applies to future locations.

“When we started looking for free-range eggs in 2017, there weren’t enough available for our businesses. We partnered with Naeville Organic Farm to create a brand of cage-free eggs to distribute within Baan Ying Family of restaurants, consumers, and any corporates who are interested in another natural and premium egg selection. We would like to ensure the highest level of raw materials and customer satisfaction that comes from good animal welfare standards for hens and every animal,” said Mr. Songsorn Jansanchai, Managing Director of Baan Ying Family.

Mr. Songsorn shared, “We have the foundation of establishing the business from family. We understand the basics of creating good business by involving participants to engage with our journey of success. In doing so, we need to pay attention to animals, human beings, and the environment to expand our strong customer base for our long-term goal. We want to engage our team, customers, and animals in our path by selecting good natural products ensuring animal welfare.”

Lalada Tangjerdjaras, Thailand Program Manager of Farm Animal Welfare and Protection for Humane Society International, said: “We are delighted with the Baan Ying Family’s new cage-free egg procurement policy. This decision underscores their steadfast dedication to hen welfare, a commitment they have consistently upheld since 2019, regardless of where they operate. Their unwavering commitment is sending a clear message: the future of egg production in Thailand is cage-free. This sets an inspiring example for other companies in Thailand to follow.”

Baan Ying Family joins other multinational companies that have made similar global cage-free egg commitments that apply to Thailand and the rest of Asia, including Central Retail Group, AccorHotels, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Sodexo, Nestle and Mondelez International, among others.

Humane Society International’s work to improve the welfare of animals in agriculture is both science-based and collaborative. The organization works with companies, farmers, processors, scientists and certifiers to support a transition to cage-free housing systems, and offers a wide range of support to companies including farm visits, consumer education, and corporate roundtables and workshops to enhance their supply chains.

ENDS

Media contact:  Lalada Tangjerdjaras, Thailand Program Manager for Farm Animal Welfare and Protection at Humane Society International : ltangjerdjaras@hsi.org