Glendale, Calif.-based DineEquity, parent company of IHOP and Applebee's restaurants announced that pork suppliers to the two chains’ 3,400 locations are expected to eliminate the use of gestation crates over the next seven years.
“By 2020, Applebee's and IHOP will only serve pork products that are produced without the use of gestation crates,” said Kevin Mortensen, DineEquity’s vice president of communications. “We recognize there are challenges to meeting this goal, but as one of the world`s largest full-service restaurant companies, we are confident our suppliers will meet our expectations and work with us to achieve this objective."
Another foodservice company, Boston-based, Au Bon Pain announced plans to no longer use pork bred from animals using gestation crates, saying it will become gestation-crate-free by 2017. Au Bon Pain’s CEO, Sue Morelli, also announced the company plans to use only cage-free eggs in its supply chain by the same 2017 deadline.
“Animal welfare and humane treatment have been important values to Au Bon Pain and our customers. Our announcements today reflect those values and continue our commitment."
