National Restaurant Chain Announces More Progress Eliminating Controversial Pig Cages
Denver-area based Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, a quick-casual restaurant leader operating 860 restaurants primarily under the Einstein Bros.Bagels, Noah’s New York Bagels and Manhattan Bagel brands, announced that it will require quarterly reports from its pork suppliers detailing their progress eliminating gestation crates — cages used to confine breeding pigs that are so restrictive, the animals can’t even turn around for years on end.“Einstein Noah Restaurant Group takes its role as a corporate citizen seriously, and we are pleased with the progress of our suppliers in their effort to help us eliminate gestation crates from our system by 2017,” stated Eric Grundemeir, Einstein Noah’s Senior Vice President of Supply Chain & Distribution. “As a next step toward accomplishing our goal, we are requiring every raw material and finished product supplier to submit quarterly progress reports that reflect the percentage of crate-free pork supplied to our company. We maintain our commitment toward achieving gestation crate-free sourcing, and welcome the ongoing and expanded cooperation from our suppliers to meet our goal.”
The Humane Society of the United States welcomed the announcement.
“Einstein Noah’s message to the pork industry is crystal clear: no more confining pigs in gestation crates,” said Josh Balk, HSUS’ director of food policy.More than 60 food companies have mandated an end to gestation crates in their supply chains.
About The HSUS
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We’re there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — on the Web at humanesociety.org.
