SALISBURY, NC – Supermarket chain operator Delhaize America is asking its pork suppliers to make reports on their progress toward eliminating gestation stalls for pregnant sows. In a letter to its pork suppliers, Delhaize America encouraged suppliers to convert to group housing.

"Consistent with its commitment to animal welfare, the company is asking all pork suppliers to report in 2014 on their progress in this direction," the company said in a statement. "The company will continue to work with our suppliers to find solutions that are more sustainable and humane and that deliver our expectations for food safety and traceability." 


Wendy'smade a similar announcement in early February. The fast-casual chain now requires all its US and Canadian pork suppliers to submit quarterly progress reports detailing the percentage of pork produced without use of gestation stalls that is supplied to Wendy's restaurants.

Delhaize America operates more than 1,500 stores along the East Coast. Its subsidiaries include Bottom Dollar Food, Food Lion and Hannaford Supermarkets.