In the lastest results of Lever’s ongoing work with key players across Asia’s retail sector, a string of new animal welfare policy commitments from the first half of 2023 will improved lives of hundreds of thousands of animals.

Earlier this quarter MYDIN, Malaysia’s largest halal retail chain, made a commitment to sell only cage-free shell eggs across all its 66 hypermarkets, emporiums, and retail outlets nationwide by 2030 thanks to Lever’s work. This shift will immensely enhance the welfare of laying hens and set a strong example for other retailers regarding their own sale of caged eggs.

MYDIN’s commitment comes just months after a landmark farm animal welfare policy from fellow retailer AEON Malaysia, developed for that company by Lever, which not only bans the use of caged eggs but also implements equivalent welfare improvements for broiler (meat) chickens, pigs, cows, fish and crustaceans in that company’s supply chain.

It also comes on the heels of a new global commitment from top-tier convenience store chain Couche-Tard, which thanks to Lever released a new global-cage free policy for its licensed stores worldwide, including roughly 1,000 in China and southeast Asia. 

Just one month after MYDIN’s announcement, Dutch retail giant Ahold Delhaize similarly announced that its SuperIndo grocery stores in Indonesia had set a goal to transition 100% of eggs sold in-store cage-free by 2035—the result of years of persistent engagement by Lever’s team. SuperIndo is the largest supermarket chain in Indonesia, with 240 stores, and the first mainstream retailer to make such a commitment.

The retail industry in Asia witnessed another momentous milestone in July, when China-based online grocery platform Benlai Life pledged to source predominantly cage-free eggs, with plans to make a complete shift within the next few years, thanks to Lever’s support. As one of the largest players in its domain, Benlai Life serves over 36 million paying users and supplies over 200 chain stores and 10,000 community fresh stores across China.

Lever’s tenacious efforts in collaboration with key players across Asia’s retail sector continue to pave the way for meaningful change in animal welfare policies, fostering a more compassionate and sustainable future for farm animals across the region and beyond.

This work happened because of the support of people like you. Please consider donating today to build a more humane and sustainable protein supply in Asia.