Brands at risk from cruel sources
Media release
2 December
2011
BRANDS AT RISK IF
EGGS FROM CRUEL SOURCESCompanies face a risk to
their brands if they use eggs from battery caged hens,
according to latest survey results released today by animal
advocacy group SAFE.
Almost a third of respondents said they would prefer well-known companies such as Edmonds, and the Progressives and Foodstuffs supermarket chains, to stop using cage eggs. Up to 29 per cent say they will feel worse about a company they’re buying from if they find they’re using eggs from caged hens.
The nationwide Horizon Research survey, gauging public attitude towards the current use of battery cages, including factors that influence egg-buying, and labeling, found 79 per cent think the production practice is cruel.
In the latest results, the survey reveals significant risks companies face if they are perceived to have cruelty in their supply chains.
Respondents were surveyed on well-known brands, including Air New Zealand, Edmonds, and supermarket chains Progressives and Foodstuffs, to ask in what way, if any, their views of their products would change if they learned the companies were using eggs from caged hens.
As many as 18.3 per cent said they would stop
buying from the companies.
The results show
almost a third said they would feel worse
about the company, and they would prefer the company stopped
using caged eggs.
Labelling is another major concern
for consumers, with some egg brands not clearly labeled.
Over 80 per cent of the respondents wanted all egg cartons better labelled. Three quarters agreed that all cage eggs should be labelled as ’Eggs from caged hens‘ and almost 60 per cent wanted production methods listed for products that contain eggs.
“We already have the example of supermarkets in New Zealand that do not sell cage eggs,” says Mr Pryor. They have experienced no drop in customer support. On the contrary, they sell as many eggs as before. Animal welfare is already a huge concern for shoppers and we believe this concern will only grow.”
When asked about choosing eggs, avoiding animal cruelty (79.4%) ranked as high as price (79.7%) as one of the two main factors influencing consumers. However, 67 per cent admitted that, at the time of purchase, their choice of eggs is often driven by habit and not whether they are from caged hens.
“The results show there are high risks for companies whose brands are associated with a product that is seen as coming from cruel animal production systems,” said SAFE campaign director Eliot Pryor.
As recently revealed in shocking images on the Sunday show, there are farms that do not meet animal welfare guidelines and continue to get away with it. Mr Pryor says the new research shows if a retailer were connected to farms that use cruel intensive farming practices the consequences could be significant.
“It is up to the retailer
to provide their customers with a guarantee that the
products they sell and their supply chain are not associated
with cruelty. They need to be engaged in customer concerns,
and animal welfare is a high priority.”
Data
3.4 Egg source
labelling
83.6% wanted all egg carton labels to say how the eggs in them were produced. 58.5% wanted labels providing production source for eggs used in products. 74.9% agreed that all cage-produced eggs should be labelled as "Eggs from caged hens".
3.6 Factors influencing purchasing When asked to think about and select from a list of main factors influencing their decision to buy eggs, the avoidance of cruelty, price and habit rated highly.
Avoiding animal cruelty (79.4%)
ranked as high as price (79.7%), along with
brand trust (61%).
However, the
source of eggs is not always at the top of consumers’
minds when buying: 55.2% said they don’t
really think about whether they are free range, barn or
caged sourced and the choices of 67% are
driven by habit.
3.7 Boycott
support
Any request to boycott battery-caged hen
eggs would result in significant support from consumers:
Nearly four of our 10 would stop buying
them.
3.8 Brand risk from cruel supply
chain
Companies face a risk to their brands
from being perceived to countenance cruelty in their supply
chains if they use eggs from battery caged hens.
Asked in
what way, if any, their views of some companies/brands or
their products would change if they learned they were using
eggs from cage ("battery") hen eggs, between 13.3%
and 18.3% would stop buying from the five brands
surveyed.
Their customers would mostly
continue to buy but would prefer the companies stopped using
eggs from battery-caged hens. Up to 29% said they
would feel worse about the company.
The
results indicate significant risk and opportunities for
policy makers, egg producers, retailers and food
manufacturers.
Source: Horizon Research survey of
1000 adult New Zealanders. Weighted to provide a
representative population sample. Maxiumum margin of error
at a 95% confidence level is +/- 3.1%.