Xiao Diao Li Tang has become China’s first chain restaurant to commit to sourcing 100% cage-free poultry, announcing a 2030 target to transition all chicken and duck meat and eggs to cage-free production systems.
The Beijing-style dining brand, which operates nearly 60 outlets nationwide, formally announced the integration of animal welfare into its core sustainability strategy. The commitment covers all poultry ingredients used across the chain’s menu, including chicken meat, eggs, duck meat and duck eggs.
“Commitment to quality and accountability toward society and the environment are the cornerstones of sustainable brand development,” said Liu Zheng, brand director at Xiao Diao Li Tang. “Our goal is to source all poultry ingredients from cage-free production by 2030. This is both an essential step in upholding our ‘fresh and healthy’ commitment and a responsible action in practicing green dining.”
Signature dish already uses cage-free duck
Xiao Diao Li Tang has used cage-free ingredients in its signature “Jasmine Roast Duck” for years, demonstrating prior engagement with animal welfare sourcing. The dish, described as a “must-order signature dish on the Beijing dining table,” features free-range ducks prepared using traditional hanging oven techniques.
Founded in 2007, the restaurant chain has positioned itself around preserving authentic Beijing flavors while prioritizing ingredient quality. The brand’s signature Xiao Diao Li Tang soup is slow-simmered for six hours each morning, while traditional dishes like Baodu aim to recreate Old Beijing culinary traditions.
The cage-free commitment represents an expansion of the chain’s existing ingredient standards. Liu stated that prioritizing farm animal welfare allows ingredients to develop superior quality in natural environments, ultimately delivering value to consumers.
Cage-free systems and food quality
Cage-free systems allow poultry to move freely and engage in natural behaviors including nesting, perching, dust-bathing and wing-stretching in indoor or outdoor environments. These behaviors are restricted in conventional battery cage systems where birds are confined in small enclosures.
The farming method aligns with animal welfare standards and has been shown through scientific research to improve both animal health and ingredient quality. Cage-free housing provides greater space for movement and allows birds to express natural behaviors that are prevented in cage confinement.
“We are delighted to see Xiao Diao Li Tang integrate animal welfare into its corporate strategy,” said Dou Siyun, sustainability program lead at Lever China, a Shanghai-based food consultancy that helped the company develop the policy. “This not only demonstrates the brand’s social responsibility but also sets a positive example for green development in China’s food service industry.”
Supply chain collaboration for implementation
Xiao Diao Li Tang indicated it will collaborate closely with suppliers and industry partners to drive sustainable upgrades across the supply chain. The transition to cage-free sourcing by 2030 requires coordination with poultry producers to ensure adequate supply of cage-free chicken and duck products.
The commitment positions ingredient safety and flavor control as drivers for the cage-free transition. The chain emphasized that the policy extends its brand promise of “freshness, health, and authenticity” to sourcing decisions that affect animal welfare.
“As market awareness of sustainability and animal welfare continues to grow, more consumers are proactively choosing cage-free, high-welfare ingredients or substituting animal protein with plant-based alternatives,” Dou said. “We believe Xiao Diao Li Tang’s leadership will inspire more domestic food service companies to join this movement.”
