UK retailer Sainsbury’s has announced a new development group which it says will “support its egg farmers” and protect the UK’s egg supply for “years to come”.

The Sainsbury’s Egg Group, which will launch in September, will be in collaboration with the retailer’s three main egg packers and will include over 100 farmers from across the UK who supply it with eggs.

The supermarket said it would take a “leadership position” on pay for egg farmers by making a commitment to always pay the cost of production or above for eggs.

It said that this would mean “financial reassurance in a volatile market”, hoping to give farmers the confidence to invest in future business advancements. According to Sainsbury’s, the group will be “supported to drive continuous improvement in animal welfare”, through the sharing of data and insights between farms.

Farmers to reassess on-farm sustainability

Farms getting involved will be asked to commit to carbon reduction in their productions and an annual carbon footprint assessment. Some farmers already involved have reportedly started reducing soy in feed and replacing with alternatives like maize as well as installing solar panels and heat pumps to steer energy use towards renewable methods.

Gavin Hodgson, director of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Horticulture at Sainsbury’s, said: “We know how important eggs are for our customers but we’re also aware of the challenges facing egg farmers, such as increased production costs and sustainability targets.

“We’re proud of our history in innovating and supporting the egg industry and our strong relationships with suppliers is the key to making change. Last year we moved from one year to five year partnerships with our egg supply base to give them confidence in their businesses. The new Sainsbury’s Egg Group aims to further support farmers, helping shift to more sustainable and resilient production.”

Gillian Potter, an egg farmer from North Yorkshire, said: “Sainsbury’s new aligned producer group gives us the peace of mind that we can expect to receive a fair return for our eggs. It also allows us to consider and plan for future investment.”