Aiming for a Future of 100% Cage-Free: Two Sustainable Confectioneries

We would like to introduce two stores that aim for 100% cage-free eggs.

In Kyoto City, the confectionery store Ikeda makes dorayaki using cage-free eggs. They use eggs from Wabisuke, a reputable cage-free egg producer, and hope to achieve 100% cage-free status by 2030 if Wabisuke can keep up with the supply. ‘The price gap between cage and free-range eggs is gradually narrowing,’ says the store manager, and indeed it is. However, even if more confectioners start using cage-free eggs, the taste of Ikeda, with 20 years of craftsmanship, remains unparalleled. At events, Ikeda also sells plant-based dorayaki using beet sugar.

Yokoi Farm in Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture, manufactures and sells pudding using cage-free eggs from Rakunosha. People often forget, but chicken egg production varies with the seasons. Therefore, there are seasons with and without an abundance of eggs, affecting procurement. Yokoi Farm uses cage eggs when cage-free eggs are insufficient, depending on the season and demand. However, having times when they use 100% cage-free eggs is their pride. When the Animal Rights Center Japan asked, “We understand that sourcing cage-free eggs can be difficult in Japan. But can you aim for 100% cage-free?” the response was a resounding “Yes, certninly!”

When we face the challenges of animal welfare, it’s not just about choosing between zero or 100, yes or no. The power to change society for the better grows amid ambiguity and chaos. We support these sprouts and small shoots. Of course, the two stores introduced here have already grown robust trunks in animal welfare and are reaching towards a future that should be. As with everything, even with the best efforts, there are things that cannot be done now. However, the Animal Rights Center Japan will continue to support companies that strive for a better society and advance animal welfare in the future.