Yurun Holdings Group, a diversified Chinese enterprise ranked 112th among China’s Top 500 Enterprises, announced its subsidiary Yurun Food will transition to 100 percent cage-free egg and chicken sourcing across all global factory operations by 2035 or earlier.
The commitment from one of the world’s largest meat producers and suppliers addresses both egg-laying hens and broiler chickens used in the company’s product portfolio. Yurun Food produces chilled meat, frozen meat, and various chicken, duck, and beef products across its manufacturing network.
Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, Yurun Holdings operates across seven industries including food, real estate, commerce, logistics, tourism, finance, and construction. The group owns two listed companies—Yurun Food and Central Shopping Center—and maintains eight major food brands.
“Yurun has always regarded ‘Making Life Healthier, More Delicious, and More Comfortable’ and ‘Becoming the Most Trusted Food Enterprise’ as our core mission,” said Ye Bingsheng, sales director of Yurun Group. “Our goal to fully transition to cage-free egg and chicken sourcing by 2035 or earlier represents a key milestone in our corporate social responsibility and sustainable development strategy.”
Addressing food safety and animal welfare
Ye emphasized the connection between ingredient sourcing standards and product quality. “We deeply recognize that excellent quality stems from strict control over every detail, including the source of ingredients,” he said. “We believe this action will provide customers with safer, healthier, and more trustworthy product choices, and lead the industry toward a greener and more trustworthy future.”
Cage-free systems allow chickens to move freely indoors or outdoors rather than being confined in restrictive battery cages. This housing approach provides greater space for natural behaviors including foraging, socializing, and movement, potentially improving bird health and product quality.
Research from the European Food Safety Authority indicates cage-free egg farms show 25 times lower rates of salmonella contamination compared to conventional cage systems, according to information provided by Lever China.
Industry leadership in China
Bing Lam, sustainability program manager at Lever China, a Shanghai-based consultancy that worked with Yurun on developing the policy, emphasized the commitment’s significance for China’s food manufacturing sector.
“As a leading enterprise in China’s food industry, Yurun’s commitment carries significant weight,” Lam said. “It not only demonstrates exceptional regard for food safety and animal welfare but also elevates China’s food manufacturing industry to new heights. We believe this initiative will encourage more enterprises to embrace sustainable development.”
Yurun Group operates what it describes as a comprehensive food safety chain from source to end, achieving full industrial chain operation across its product categories. The company’s brands include “Yurun,” “Furun,” “Ha Rou Lian,” “Wangrun,” “Xuerun,” “Yirun,” “Wuzhou,” and “Furunde,” with several recognized as China Well-known Trademarks.
The group maintains extensive research infrastructure including a national meat processing laboratory, postdoctoral research station, and multiple engineering research centers focused on meat quality, safety control, and processing technology development.
Lever China has completed protein supply chain upgrades for multiple food enterprises in China, working with companies on transitioning to higher-welfare sourcing standards.
