Activists end Sodexo protest after company agrees to engage on cage-free promise
Activists chained to Sodexo’s headquarters in Paris have removed their chains after Sodexo agreed to engage on its cage-free promise.
Animal activists have unchained themselves from Sodexo’s headquarters in Paris after the company agreed to meet within the next month to discuss its global animal welfare policies, including in India.
The protest, organized by Animal Equality, began earlier today as activists demanded that Sodexo take action to end the use of cages for hens. The French food services company made a previous commitment to end cage use globally by the end of 2025 but has failed to meet its own deadline.
After nearly four hours locked to the company’s headquarters, activists ended the action following a commitment from Sodexo to engage with Animal Equality.
“We are pausing further actions in good faith while these discussions take place, and we expect Sodexo to come prepared with a serious global plan to end cages for hens.”
– Sharon Núñez, President of Animal Equality.
Photo Credit: Raffaele Petralla | Animal Equality
Sodexo’s cage-free failure spans 43 countries
In the European Union, conventional battery cages used to confine hens are banned, but Sodexo continues to source eggs produced through these methods elsewhere.
The company operates in roughly 43 countries and serves over 100 million consumers every day. Due to Sodexo’s scale, millions of animals are affected by its missed cage-free deadline, particularly in India, where the company is furthest behind.
Animal Equality’s global cage-free campaign
The Sodexo campaign is part of Animal Equality’s broader effort to hold corporations accountable for unfulfilled cage-free pledges.
In March 2026, Animal Equality ended its campaign targeting global retailer Ahold Delhaize, after the company committed to phasing out cages for hens and pigs, publishing yearly progress reports, and adding cage-free signage in its U.S. stores. The commitment is expected to impact 5 to 7 million hens.
Several European countries have already banned cages, and momentum behind stronger cage-free protections for hens keeps building.
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