Morrisons and Waitrose breaks silence on brown eggs as Sainsbury’s abandons the product
Sainsbury’s has said it will only stock white eggs to reduce its carbon footprint to become more sustainable – despite this Morrisons and Waitrose have said they will continue to sell the eggs
Morrisons have issued a statement (Image: Getty)
Morrisons and Waitrose have spoken out after Sainsbury’s revealed they will cease stocking brown eggs.
Sainsbury’s has declared it will solely offer white-shell eggs under its own-brand range in an effort to become more environmentally friendly. Nevertheless, Morrisons and Waitrose have vowed to continue selling brown eggs.
Sainsbury’s, Britain’s second-biggest supermarket group, confirmed it will exclusively offer white eggs moving forward, as they produce a smaller carbon footprint than brown eggs. They believe this will help them achieve their net-zero goals by 2035. A Waitrose spokesperson stated the company could “achieve high welfare and reduce our environmental impact at the same time”.
Similarly, Morrisons made the identical commitment, noting that “customers are continuously looking for ways to shop more sustainably”. The retailer has promised to maintain brown eggs within its own-brand range. They guaranteed shoppers the liberty to select between both varieties.
This follows Sainsbury’s confirmation it will cease stocking brown eggs due to their environmental impact. White eggs are produced by white-feathered hens, which enjoy a longer laying period and require less feed, meaning they deliver identical egg production with reduced carbon requirements, reports the Express.
Studies from SAC Consulting discovered white eggs have a 12.7% smaller carbon footprint. The supermarket hopes to reach net-zero for its own operations by 2035 and throughout all of its suppliers by 2050.
A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s stated: “White eggs have the same delicious taste and nutritional benefits as their brown counterparts but result in lower carbon emissions and better welfare outcomes for the hens that lay them.”
A representative from Waitrose commented: “We are committed to the highest standards of animal welfare and quality, championing British eggs from trusted, high-welfare farms.
“We are also on track to achieve net zero across our UK farms by 2035, demonstrating that we can achieve high welfare and reduce our environmental impact at the same time.”
The development comes as retail giant Marks and Spencer has announced it will close 14 in-store cafés, impacting 13 sites across England and one in Scotland.
The high street chain stated the decision forms part of a store restructuring plan aimed at “provide more product choice and improve the shopping experience.” All affected cafés in England and Scotland are scheduled to shut their doors this year.
Disgruntled customers have taken to social media to express their frustration, with one stated: “Nearly always used to do our shopping then go to the cafe. Staff reckon they’ve lost customers because of the cafe closing.”
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