ST. LOUIS – Protests are taking place outside ALDI grocery stores throughout the region Thursday, including in St. Louis, aiming to expose the stores “inadequate animal welfare practices.”
The group Animal Equality organized these protests, criticizing the chain for their unchanging pattern of confining pigs and hens to cages that allow little to no movement for the majority of their lives, according to the advocacy organization.
The cages the animals are housed in have been described as inhumane, torturous, and cruel.
Protestors could be seen outside the newest ALDI location in south St. Louis County at 13047 Butler Crest Dr. Thursday morning during the ribbon cutting. The goal of the demonstration is to ask ALDI to provide protection for the animals in supply chains, like its roots in Germany do.
The grocer stated in 2019 that they intended to eliminate the cages, but Animal Equality said in a release, “No significant progress has been reported on animal welfare improvements within its supply chain. There has also been no progress or future plans towards the 2025 deadline to eliminate cages for hens. Meanwhile, a growing number of companies, including Aldi’s competitors—like Costco—are ending the confinement of animals in cages.”
Other protests are also taking place Thursday in Illinois and Arkansas.