Farmfoods Solihull offices disrupted by cage-free protesters
Farmfoods offices in Solihull have been disrupted by protesters over the company abandoning their commitment to stop caging egg-laying hens.
Tim Ridgway
Farmfoods offices in Solihull have been disrupted by protesters over the company abandoning their commitment to stop caging egg-laying hens.
Protesters from The Humane League UK entered the Farmfoods in Solihull wearing inflatable chicken costumes and chanting with megaphones.
The protestors hung a banner from the roof, and gave staff a letter asking Farmfoods bosses George and Eric Herd to stop selling eggs from caged hens. The protest continued outside the building afterwards.
Farmfoods is one of the last major UK retailers insisting on sourcing eggs from caged hens, even as the Government pursues a national ban on cages.
The company had previously committed to going cage-free following a 2016 campaign, before scrapping the policy as the 2025 deadline approached.
Lead protester Frankie said: "Farmfoods must see that we are not letting up, and not going away. Thousands of hens are locked in cages, barely able to move in crowded, miserable conditions, because of Farmfoods’ choices. The public is deeply opposed to this practice, and it may soon be banned altogether. Farmfoods can choose to help these animals - and we will remain a thorn in their side until they do."
This action follows a string of others in Scotland, where volunteers managed to get a golf tour to drop Farmfoods as their sponsor.
Farmfoods states “We also sell free range eggs at competitive value ensuring choice for all consumers.” But certain stores, such as the one found closest to Farmfoods' Cumbernauld HQ, sold only eggs from caged birds in October 2025, providing zero choice for customers. Campaigners have also found instances of Farmfoods selling eggs from caged hens at the same price as Aldi’s free-range eggs.
Keeping hens in cages prevents them from fully performing key instinctual behaviours such as dust-bathing and wing-flapping. This creates intense stress for the birds, as well as weakening their bones.
The Humane League UK launched a petition in response to this betrayal of animal welfare standards, which has accumulated over 50,000 signatures.
An overwhelming 94% of the UK public oppose the use of cages for laying hens.
Farmfoods take £1 billion in revenue each year, which The Humane League UK argues must be used to help get hens out of cages.