Aoioto in Ibaraki Prefecture will make the transition to cage-free by 2025

Aoioto Co., Ltd., which operates “French Caf e in the Forest Aoioto” and “Cutlet Cafe Aoioto” in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, and the sweets brand “amaioto” which was launched in July of this year, has decided to aim for a cage-free by 2025.

The initiative for animal welfare began with the launch of the sweets brand “amaioto” in July 2023, with the concept of “the ultimate treat, the ultimate bite.”

In the search for eggs to use in “amaioto,” they visited Obata Livestock, also located in Ibaraki Prefecture. After tasting the eggs and witnessing Obata Livestock employees gently interacting with the laying hens, they decided to use eggs from this farm. Obata Livestock is the farm which began transitioning from cage farming to free-range farming in 2022.

As the producer changes, the region is also shifting towards ethical practices. A positive cycle is beginning to emerge, thereby supporting the efforts of responsible producers.

Owner Kayoko Suzuki says,

“Initially, I chose cage-free eggs based on taste. However, as the idea of animal welfare came into play, it became a significant concern. As someone who receives the lives of animals, I started thinking that it’s important for animals to be in a stress-free environment.”

As they delved into the issue of dairy cow farming conditions, they also switched to New Zealand grass-fed products for dairy, including butter. Grass-fed means that animals freely graze on pasture, following their natural way of life.

Since the distribution of free-range eggs in Japan is limited, the eggs used in their cafes had not been switched to cge-free. However, when the Animal Rights Center explained the concept of cage-free commitment and its approach to changing future procurement, Aoioto agreed to aim for cage-free, including in their cafes, by 2025.

Making the decision for a company to switch to a better option the moment they realize it is superior, is actually a challenging task.
Aoioto’s commitment to becoming “part of solving social issues” will likely contribute to expanding the circle of animal welfare in Japan.