METRO Retail, which operates more than 70 stores across Metro Manila, Luzon, and Visayas, has committed to achieving 100% cage-free egg sourcing by 2033, establishing the first comprehensive cage-free timeline for a major mainstream Philippine grocery chain. The company has already transitioned 26% of its egg brands to cage-free sourcing, demonstrating operational progress toward the 2033 target.
The commitment positions METRO Retail as a mainstream retail leader in the Philippines’ broader shift toward animal welfare and sustainable sourcing. The company joins a sector-wide movement where nearly 80% of leading restaurant chains and approximately 85% of leading hotel groups have already set timelines for phasing out caged eggs.
METRO Retail Stores Group, Inc. was founded in 1982 and has evolved into one of the Philippines’ largest retail operators. The company operates through multiple store formats including Metro Department Store, Metro Supermarket, Super Metro Hypermarket, and Metro Value Mart, serving consumers across the Philippines with a network of 63 stores as of 2023.
As the largest operator of department stores and hypermarkets in the Visayas region and the second-largest supermarket operator by retail sales value according to industry analysis, METRO Retail’s procurement decisions influence substantial volumes of goods purchased by consumers across the Philippines.
Industry context and competitive landscape
Three Philippine retailers — Heyday, Healthy Options, and FreshStart — have already completed full transitions to 100% cage-free sourcing across all stores. MetroMart, an e-commerce pioneer, operates with 90% cage-free egg options. EveGrocer has expanded cage-free availability to 50% with a pledge to reach 100% by 2028.
However, METRO Retail’s commitment represents the first comprehensive cage-free timeline established by a major mainstream grocery operator with significant geographic footprint and store count. The company’s 70+ locations across three major Philippine regions positions the policy to influence substantial volumes of egg sourcing while demonstrating mainstream retail viability of cage-free transitions.
Peer-reviewed research indicates that well-managed cage-free egg production reduces Salmonella contamination risk compared with conventional caged systems. The Philippine government recognized cage-free sourcing importance in 2020 when the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards developed comprehensive animal welfare guidelines for cage-free egg production, establishing regulatory framework supporting industry transitions.
Consumer preferences increasingly favor cage-free sourcing. Survey data indicates strong Filipino consumer support for cage-free standards, with growing numbers of consumers choosing to exclude eggs from their diets entirely as a means of supporting animal welfare.
Retail sector progress
METRO Retail’s commitment represents acceleration of sector-wide progress. SM Retail brands — including Walter Mart, SM Supermarket, and Alfamart — have transitioned 20-40% of egg SKUs to cage-free sourcing while developing broader cage-free policies for full implementation.
Sixteen retailers including Unimart, Cash&Carry, Landers, S&R, and others have not yet established cage-free sourcing timelines, suggesting continued opportunity for sector expansion.
METRO Retail’s 2033 target provides eight years for supply chain development, enabling egg producers to transition production systems and establish cage-free capacity meeting the retailer’s procurement volumes. The timeline aligns with broader Philippine food industry momentum where restaurant and hotel sector transitions create market signals supporting cage-free production scaling.
