Akiyoshi, Rena Bakery, Rotruedee, and Tap Home Cook make the switch to cage-free eggs for a more humane future
This World Egg Day, four beloved Thai restaurants are putting animal welfare first by celebrating World Hen Day instead. Akiyoshi, Rena Bakery, Rotruedee, and Tap Home Cook are proudly announcing their transition to using only cage-free eggs and ensuring that the hens who lay those eggs are treated with greater care and have room to move.
In collaboration with Humane Society International, these popular establishments are leading the way in Thailand's shift toward more compassionate food choices. Japanese restaurant Akiyoshi, authentic Thai fusion western style Rena Bakery, renowned Thai restaurant Rotruedee and Tap Home Cook, famous for its home-style cooking, are all committing to a cage-free egg supply. This means hens will no longer be confined to cramped cages, and instead will have space to spread their wings, walk, and engage in natural behaviors like dustbathing and perching.
In Thailand, approximately 96.3 million hens are used for egg production, and the majority are confined in small wire cages so small that hens can't spread their wings or take more than a few steps. In contrast, cage-free systems allow hens to express important natural behaviors, including nesting, perching and dustbathing. Studies show that hens are sentient, intelligent and sociable animals who feel emotions, can empathize with their chicks, can count and anticipate the future, which in turn affects their decision making.
"World Hen Day is an opportunity to shine a light on the importance of animal welfare and make the point clearly that hens are individuals deserving of basic protections," said Lalada Tangjerdjaras, Thailand Program Manager for Farm Animal Welfare and Protection at Humane Society International. "Thai consumers, like others around the world, care about animal welfare, and they support companies that share these values. We're thrilled to work with companies like Akiyoshi, Rena Bakery, Rotruedee, and Tap Home Cook that have adopted cage-free policies and are advancing the movement toward cage-free egg production.
These four companies are responding to growing consumer demand for more ethical food choices. For them, the decision to go cage-free isn't just about business? it's about doing what's right.
"Switching to using 100% cage-free eggs is an important decision for us because it fits with who we are and is what our customers want." said the Executive Management team at Akiyoshi.
Mr. Chatchai Komintr, CEO of Rena Bakery added: "After we learned more about how caged hens live, we decided that we needed to do something to help."
Mr. Tupnapaat Jarumpornsakul, Founder of Rotruedee, said: "For us, improving animal welfare is a natural extension of our mission to celebrate food while caring for animals and society."
"At Tap Home Cook, we are deeply committed to responsible sourcing," said Chitraphan Charanchitta, the restaurant's Founder and CEO. "Our transition to cage-free eggs aligns perfectly with our vision. We are grateful to Humane Society International for their support in helping us make this important change, and we are excited to be part of the global movement toward more humane practices."
These four businesses join over 50 companies in Thailand, including big names like Minor Foods and Marriott, that have pledged to use exclusively cage-free eggs. Other Thailand brands, like Baan Ying Family, Bite Me Softly, Kalpapruek, and Sukishi are also part of this growing shift toward more humane sourcing. Globally, more than 2,000 companies?including Burger King, Bimbo, and Accor ?have committed to go cage-free.
The move to cage-free eggs reflects a broader shift toward ethical choices, as more Thai consumers seek out businesses that prioritize animal welfare, and make their preferences known. For Thailand's hens, this is a step toward a brighter, more compassionate future.