Piggybacking similar commitments from other food companies, global retail giant Walmart announced it will transition to a 100 percent cage-free egg supply chain for its US stores and Sam’s Clubs locations by 2025.

“Our customers and associates count on Walmart and Sam’s Club to deliver on affordability and quality, while at the same time offering transparency into how their food is grown and raised,” says Kathleen McLaughlin, chief sustainability officer at Walmart. “Our commitment to transition to a cage-free egg supply chain recognizes that expectation and represents another step we are taking to improve transparency for food we sell in our US stores and clubs.”

This development supports the company’s continued progress toward its aspiration of achieving the globally-recognized “Five Freedoms” of animal welfare for farm animals in its supply chain and comes on the heels of the company’s commitment to new animal welfare positions.

The company has offered customers the option of cage free eggs in its US stores since 2001. Walmart will continue to work alongside farmers as it moves toward a cage-free egg supply chain by 2025 and the company says it will continue to collaborate with suppliers, government agencies, academics, NGOs, animal health companies and veterinary experts to assess and improve how food sold to its US customers is grown and raised.