Spar UK has joined the major supermarkets in committing to stop selling eggs from caged hens by 2025.

The symbol retailer will phase out the sales of eggs from caged hens in support of animal welfare, after reviewing the methods used by its egg suppliers.

Morrisons, Tesco, Asda  and Aldi have recently announced that they will also halt the sale of ‘enriched colony’ eggs over the next nine years.

Lidl has also pledged to change its supplier from 2025 onwards.

Sainsbury’s, The Co-operative Group, M&S and Waitrose already only sell free-range, or barn housed, eggs.

Debbie Robinson, Spar UK managing director, said: “We have reviewed our egg suppliers, including all our regional producers, and in line with the grocery market, Spar is committed to switch to cage-free eggs by 2025.”

The commitment from retailers follows on from the banning of battery cages in the UK in 2012.

Enriched cages, which are still allowed, must provide a legal minimum floor space of 750cm2 per hen and a small perch, litter and a nest.