MFT Group Praised for New Cage-Free Egg Policy

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Private equity firm MFT Group won praise today from international non-profit Lever Foundation for its new commitment to source only cage-free eggs by 2025 for all of its food-related brands.

MFT Group's portfolio includes financial services, real estate, healthcare, and food and beverage brands. Its subsidiary Waterwoods Group Corporation produces ready-to-eat products for several leading retail and convenience chains in the Philippines, including FamilyMart. The Group also operates Mimi & Bros in the Philippines, La Lola Churreria in Singapore, and SaladStop! restaurants in Vietnam.

“Our company strives for excellence while always keeping an eye on community impact and social responsibility. Committing to the finest ingredients is paramount for us, which is why we have decided to switch to using only cage-free eggs and egg ingredients by 2025 for all of our food-related brands,” said Astrid Serrano, Head of F&B Operations for MFT Group.

“We applaud MFT Group for this important cage-free commitment, which will benefit Filipino consumers, while also improving the welfare of animals in the company’s supply chain," said Robyn del Rosario, Sustainability Program Manager at Lever Foundation, which worked with MFT on its pledge. “MFT is the first fresh food manufacturer in the Philippines to announce a cage-free commitment, and we encourage other companies to follow MFT’s great example in order to protect food safety and animal welfare.”

Leading animal protection and food safety organizations worldwide encourage a switch to cage-free eggs, which are less cruel to animals and safer for consumers. On caged egg farms, each egg-laying hen is confined in a cage so small she can barely turn around for nearly her entire life. Research by the European Food Safety Authority and others has found that cage-free egg farms are up to 25 times less likely to be contaminated with key salmonella strains than hens raised in cages. Battery cage egg production has been banned throughout the European Union as well as in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, India, and parts of the United States.

Demand for cage-free eggs is flourishing in the Philippines, spurred by consumer demand for healthier options and concern for animal welfare. In recent years a growing list of restaurant, hospitality, retail and packaged foods brands have pledged to use only cage-free eggs in the country. In response to the growing shift, in 2020 the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) initiated the development of a national Code of Practice (COP) for Cage-free Egg Production, a comprehensive set of animal welfare guidelines for the growing cage-free egg sector.

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About Lever Foundation

Lever Foundation is a global NGO based in the United States and operating across southeast Asia. Lever Foundation works with leading food companies in the Philippines and across the region to help them upgrade their protein sourcing for a more humane, safe and sustainable supply chain, with a focus on cage-free eggs and alternative protein.

MetroMart Wins Praise for Commitment to Sell Only Cage-Free Eggs Nationwide by 2025

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Manila, Philippines – MetroMart, the country’s largest e-commerce grocery delivery platform, won praise today from U.S.-based global NGO Lever Foundation for its new commitment to source and sell only cage-free eggs nationwide by 2025.

Evreem Fortich, COO and Cage-Free Egg Ambassador at MetroMart, holds a box of cage-free eggs. Under the new policy, all the eggs sold by MetroMart nationwide will be cage-free by 2025.

“MetroMart is committed to social responsibility and benefiting the community, including through selling high quality, safe and humane food products,” said Evreem Fortich, Chief Operating Officer at MetroMart and ambassador of the company on the issue. “We’re pleased to share our new policy of selling only cage-free eggs to consumers on our platform by 2025, and we look forward to working closely with our partners to achieve that goal.”

MetroMart’s e-commerce platform connects consumers with local supermarkets and retailers including The Marketplace, Marks & Spencer, Landmark and All Day Supermarket. The company delivers throughout the Manila and Cebu regions, with plans to expand nationally. MetroMart has been actively promoting sustainability initiatives by using banners on its platform to raise public awareness of environmental issues, and offering promotional discounts for ethical and sustainable products.

Numerous studies have found cage-free eggs are safer and have more vitamins and minerals and a better nutritional profile than caged eggs. Research by the European Food Safety Authority and others has found that cage-free egg farms are up to 25 times less likely to be contaminated with key strains of salmonella compared to hens raised in cages. Hens raised in cage-free systems enjoy better bone health, are free to move and express their natural behavior such as foraging, dust-bathing, flying and nesting.

“We applaud MetroMart for its commitment on this important issue, which will benefit the company’s customers by increasing food safety and quality while also improving the welfare of animals in its supply chain,” said Robyn del Rosario, Sustainability Program Manager at Lever Foundation, which worked with MetroMart on its pledge. “With e-commerce leaders like MetroMart rising in popularity and importance during the pandemic, the company’s commitment to socially responsible policies that benefit the community sets a stellar example for other retailers and food brands.”

Leading animal protection and food safety organizations around the world encourage a switch to cage-free eggs, which are less cruel to animals and safer for consumers. On caged egg farms, each egg-laying hen is confined for nearly her entire life in a cage so small she can barely turn around. Battery cage egg production has been banned throughout the European Union as well as in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, India, and parts of the United States.

In recent years a growing list of restaurant, hospitality, retail and packaged foods brands have pledged to use only cage-free eggs in the Philippines, including KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King, Marriott, Nestle, Unilever, and many others. MetroMart is the first retailer in the Philippines and the first online grocery delivery platform in Asia to make the same pledge.

ABOUT METROMART

MetroMart is the country’s leading online grocery delivery platform, partnering with five of the top supermarkets in the country and over forty other prominent retailers. MetroMart’s vision is to connect consumers with their favorite local merchants and it diligently provides customers with the best products and services, promising city-wide delivery within two hours. During the Covid-19 pandemic the company became a household name in the Philippines, expanding by 400% in just thirty days, and the company plans to expand nationwide. With a focus on sustainability, food safety and quality, MetroMart continuously strives to improve the living experiences of its customers.

ABOUT LEVER FOUNDATION

Lever Foundation is a global NGO based in the United States and operating across southeast Asia. Lever Foundation works with leading food companies in the Philippines and across the region to help them upgrade their protein sourcing for a more humane, safe and sustainable supply chain, with a focus on cage-free eggs and alternative protein.