The food service industry is witnessing an important evolution in corporate responsibility as companies increasingly adopt comprehensive animal welfare policies that address all protein categories in their supply chains. This shift comes at a critical time for animal welfare in food production, with growing consumer awareness of how animals are raised for food.
Nordic coffeehouse chain Espresso House recently exemplified this trend by announcing a comprehensive animal welfare policy that establishes rigorous standards across its meat, poultry, and seafood supply chains. The policy sets a new benchmark for the cafe and restaurant sector by addressing welfare concerns across all animal proteins used in the company’s 500+ locations throughout Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Germany.
“Working alongside the procurement department and our suppliers, we’ve been striving to make real changes for animal rights, and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved so far,” noted Jessica Julin, Sustainability Manager at Espresso House Group, whose approach has earned praise from international NGOs.
Moving beyond isolated commitments
Historically, many food companies have approached animal welfare through isolated commitments focused on specific issues, most commonly cage-free eggs. This piecemeal approach, while valuable, often leaves significant portions of a company’s supply chain unaddressed.
Espresso House’s new policy represents a more holistic approach by establishing specific welfare standards for all animal proteins in its supply chain. For seafood, the company requires humane mechanical or electrical stunning by 2030, mandates aquaculture environments meeting Global Animal Partnership, RSPCA, or Naturland standards, and prohibits specific wild-catch systems with significant animal welfare concerns.
The policy addresses pork production by prohibiting farrowing crates, sow stalls, and gestation crates by 2030, while requiring environmental enrichment materials and prohibiting practices like tail docking and surgical castration without painkillers.
The company also maintains its ongoing commitment to cage-free eggs, which it has sourced since 2021, and to chicken meeting European Chicken Commitment standards by 2026. Complementing these animal welfare standards, Espresso House ensures that 50% of its menu items are plant-based, addressing both welfare concerns and sustainability goals.
Industry leaders setting new standards
Other food service companies have begun following similar approaches. JDE Peet’s has established comprehensive welfare standards covering eggs, chicken, pork, beef, and dairy ingredients, with specific timelines for implementation. Their policy includes sourcing cage-free eggs by 2027, requiring enriched environments for chickens by 2025, and specific welfare requirements for pork, beef, and dairy ingredients.
AEON Malaysia has implemented a policy recognizing the Five Freedoms of animal welfare while establishing standards across multiple protein categories, including cage-free eggs and certified sustainable seafood.
While many companies continue to make only limited commitments or remain silent on animal welfare issues, these comprehensive policies represent an emerging best practice in the industry.
Consumer expectations driving change in animal welfare
According to the provided documents, a study by the Stockholm Resilience Centre confirms that corporate commitments like Espresso House’s align with shifting consumer priorities toward animal welfare and sustainable practices, with consumers increasingly viewing animal welfare as fundamental to food quality and safety.
“Espresso House’s establishment of comprehensive welfare standards across all meat, poultry and seafood ingredients, alongside its strong plant-based foods policy, demonstrates the company’s exceptional leadership in the restaurant and cafe sector,” said Astrid Duque of Lever Foundation, which worked with Espresso House on developing its policy.
The Five Freedoms framework, mentioned in the provided documents, has formed the backbone of animal welfare practices in the industry since the 1960s. These include: Freedom from Hunger and Thirst, Freedom from Discomfort, Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease, Freedom to Express Normal Behavior, and Freedom from Fear and Distress.
Comprehensive animal welfare policies offer several advantages over piecemeal approaches. They create consistency across supply chains, simplify supplier management, and enable more effective communication with consumers about company values. They also reduce the risk of inconsistent practices that could undermine brand reputation.
By addressing welfare standards for all animal proteins simultaneously, companies can establish clearer expectations for suppliers and create more meaningful progress timelines. This approach also helps companies address welfare concerns associated with various forms of animal agriculture.
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