0
Espresso House, the Nordic region's largest coffeehouse chain, won praise today from international NGO Lever Foundation for issuing a comprehensive new welfare policy that establishes rigorous standards for all pork and pork ingredients in the company’s supply chain. The new policy builds on previous commitments the company had made on eggs and poultry, and a new policy commitment just enacted for its seafood supply chain. Espresso House operates over 500 locations across Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Germany.
“Working alongside the procurement department and our suppliers, we’ve been striving to make real changes for animal rights, and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved so far,” noted Jessica Julin, Sustainability Manager at Espresso House Group.
The company’s new pork welfare policy prohibits by 2030 the use of farrowing crates, sow stalls or gestation crates at any time. It also requires environmental enrichment materials and litter to be provided, prohibits tail docking, and prohibits surgical castration without the use of painkillers.
“Espresso House's establishment of comprehensive animal welfare standards for pigs in its pork supply chain, in parallel to the welfare standards it has committed to for chickens, laying hens and fish, demonstrates the company’s leadership in the restaurant and cafe sector,” said Astrid Duque of the non-profit Lever Foundation, which has worked closely with the company on its new policy over the past two years. “Espresso House has created a compelling example that we encourage other restaurant and cafe groups to follow in adopting meaningful common-sense welfare improvements for the many pigs in its supply chain.”
A study by the Stockholm Resilience Centre reveals that such corporate commitments align with a decisive shift in regional consumer priorities toward animal welfare, with consumers increasingly viewing it as fundamental to food quality and safety. Many consumers are also leaving animal products off their plates as the best way to protect animals.
Espresso House's new animal welfare policy is available online HERE
February 21, 2025 - Espresso House
