Customers queue at a Wagas counter in Shanghai during lunch hour. Behind the scenes, kitchen staff assemble grain bowls and wraps using eggs from suppliers transitioning to cage-free systems. By 2030, every egg served across all 350+ Wagas locations will come from cage-free sources. Meanwhile, Steel Pipe Factory Xiaojungan Hot Pot Skewers commits beyond eggs to poultry itself: 100% cage-free chicken by 2035 alongside cage-free eggs by 2030. Two chains, 1,350+ outlets combined, are transforming cage-free sourcing standards across China’s restaurant sector.

These pledges, developed through collaboration with Lever China, mark significant progress in ethical protein sourcing. Steel Pipe Factory makes history as China’s first hotpot chain to commit to 100% cage-free chicken. Additionally, both chains address eggs—a first for comprehensive cage-free sourcing policies covering multiple protein categories in China’s restaurant industry.

Health-Focused Chain Sets 2030 Timeline

Wagas, a pioneer in healthy casual dining, has committed to sourcing 100% cage-free eggs across all 350+ locations by 2030. The policy covers its entire brand portfolio, including Baker & Spice, Lokal, and Funk & Kale. Consequently, this makes Wagas the first major health-conscious restaurant group in China to adopt such a comprehensive standard.

“Our core philosophy at Wagas has always centered on using top-quality ingredients to provide high-quality, healthy food and beverages that empower consumers to live the ‘Wagas Style,’ through balanced nutrition and positive lifestyle choices,” said Angela Zhang at Wagas Group. “Our commitment to 100% cage-free eggs by 2030 is a natural extension of our brand values, enhancing both the nutritional and ethical quality of our offerings while setting a new standard for the industry.”

Hotpot Giant Addresses Multiple Protein Categories

Steel Pipe Factory Xiaojungan Hot Pot Skewers operates over 1,000 outlets across seven countries. The chain’s dual cage-free sourcing policy will spare approximately 2 million broiler chickens and tens of thousands of egg-laying hens from confined conditions annually. Furthermore, this makes Steel Pipe Factory the first hotpot chain in China to establish comprehensive animal welfare standards covering both eggs and chicken meat.

Together, these commitments reflect a broader shift in China’s food sector toward ethical sourcing practices. “Wagas and Steel Pipe Factory are proving that ethical sourcing is not just a global trend but a viable business strategy in China,” said Bing Lam of Lever China. “As consumers become more conscious of food origins, brands that lead on sustainability will gain a competitive edge.”

The impact extends beyond individual brands. With Wagas targeting 100% cage-free eggs and Steel Pipe Factory addressing both eggs and chicken meat through cage-free sourcing, these policies establish new benchmarks. Supply chains begin restructuring to meet demand. Suppliers invest in transitioning production systems. Other restaurant groups evaluate whether to follow or risk falling behind consumer expectations. The transformation accelerates not through regulation but through market leaders demonstrating that cage-free sourcing works at scale across China’s diverse restaurant landscape.