Frans Muller: Stop Ahold Delhaize’s Global Betrayal of Animal Welfare
Ahold Delhaize publicly pledged to eliminate cages from its U.S. egg supply chain by 2025—a commitment that aligned with global industry standards and consumer expectations. Now that deadline is here, and instead of following through, Ahold Delhaize has chosen to delay its promise by a staggering seven years, leaving millions of hens trapped in tiny wire cages.
This is more than a broken promise. It's a profound betrayal of consumer trust and animal welfare.
As the CEO and President of Ahold Delhaize, Frans Muller holds the power to reverse this regression. But instead, under his leadership, the company continues to profit from animal cruelty—while refusing to take meaningful, timely action.
Battery cages are so cruel they are banned in multiple U.S. states and outlawed across the European Union. Yet in 2025, Ahold Delhaize continues to sell eggs from these abusive systems in its U.S. stores like Hannaford, Food Lion, and Stop & Shop—despite years of public promises to phase them out.
This delay means over 2,500 more days of suffering for hens crammed into cages, unable to spread their wings, nest, or engage in any natural behaviors. It's time for accountability.
By continuing to drag its feet, Ahold Delhaize is engaging in humane-washing—portraying itself as a responsible, forward-thinking retailer while delaying action and betraying the animals in its supply chain.
Public promises must come with public accountability. Ahold Delhaize cannot continue to market itself as a responsible global retailer while betraying its most fundamental commitments.
Sign now and demand real change: No more delays, no more excuses, no more cage cruelty.
Dear Frans Muller,
Under your leadership, Ahold Delhaize has walked back one of its longest-standing animal welfare commitments. In 2019, your company pledged to eliminate cages from its U.S. egg supply chain by 2025 – a commitment that aligned with growing consumer expectations and evolving animal welfare standards. But instead of honoring this promise, Ahold Delhaize has delayed it by seven more years – condemning millions of hens to remain trapped in tiny wire cages, suffering every single day.
This is more than a broken promise. It is a profound betrayal of consumer trust and a blatant disregard for basic animal welfare.
As CEO, you have the power and responsibility to end this cruelty. Yet under your leadership, Ahold Delhaize continues to sell eggs from battery cages at its U.S. banners, including Hannaford, Food Lion, and Stop & Shop. These systems are so inhumane they've been banned in several U.S. states and across the European Union. And still, in 2025, they remain on your shelves.
Despite Ahold Delhaize publicly endorsing the "Five Freedoms" and "Five Domains" of animal welfare, the hens in your supply chain are denied even the most basic of freedoms – unable to spread their wings, nest, or dust bathe.
Empty promises don't help animals. Ahold Delhaize is a multi-billion dollar company, yet is refusing to do the bare minimum to reduce suffering for the animals in its supply chain – allowing hens to be trapped in cages for the entirety of their lives.
It's time to step up and lead – public promises require public accountability.
Stop the excuses and delays. End the cage cruelty. Signed,
[Name]
