Léo Le Ster
Sinergia Animal’s work shows how steady outreach and simple, practical ideas can help a company move toward better conditions for animals.
This case study highlights the work of Sinergia Animal, an international animal protection organization working across Latin America and Southeast Asia, and a member of the Open Wing Alliance. It focuses on Buffalo Waffles, a restaurant franchise in Chile that had previously stopped reporting on its cage-free commitment.
In 2025, after renewed accountability outreach, Buffalo Waffles removed eggs entirely from its waffle mix—cutting more than six tons of eggs from its supply chain each year and sparing hens from ongoing confinement.
ABOUT BUFFALO WAFFLES
Buffalo Waffles is a restaurant franchise with around 50 locations across Chile. They’re best known for their playful mix of sweet and savory waffle dishes. Removing eggs from its waffle mix eliminated more than six tons of eggs from its supply chain each year, reducing the suffering of thousands of hens.
FROM FIRST CONTACT TO THE CAGE-FREE COMMITMENT
In 2021, Buffalo Waffles announced on Instagram that it would move to using 100% cage-free eggs. The commitment was achieved through corporate engagement dialogue and did not involve campaign pressure, despite a threatening campaign email being sent.
After the announcement, updates never followed. By 2023, communication had stopped, and conversations with suppliers later showed that the transition had been uneven. In early 2025, Sinergia Animal learned that the company had fully returned to using eggs from caged hens.
With no active reporting and no clear progress, Buffalo Waffles was identified as an accountability priority for 2025.
Sinergia Animal’s first step was to notify the company that it could be included in an upcoming accountability campaign. This message reopened communication and led to renewed dialogue. When conversations slowed, Sinergia Animal stayed available and clear about next steps, including the possibility of renewed campaign activity.
At the same time, Sinergia Animal shared practical options that could reduce costs and still improve conditions for hens, such as lowering egg use or testing egg-free ingredients. These ideas helped the company consider paths beyond its original commitment.
THE SHIFT TOWARD AN EGG-FREE MIX
During these conversations, removing eggs entirely became a realistic option. Buffalo Waffles’ mix provider reviewed the recipe and confirmed that a single substitute ingredient could replace eggs while keeping the same taste and texture. The reformulation also reduced costs, which addressed the company’s main concern.
The provider ran several tests and reported positive results. After a short trial period in August, the company decided to move forward. The egg-free mix was fully implemented across locations starting in October.
RESULTS
The change led to clear outcomes for both the company and for hens:
-
Buffalo Waffles now uses 0% eggs in its waffle mix.
-
More than six tons of eggs per year were removed from its supply chain.
-
Product quality remained consistent while costs were reduced.
-
The company shared positive feedback and interest in presenting the change as part of its innovation efforts.
TAKEAWAYS
Sinergia Animal’s work with Buffalo Waffles shows how steady outreach and simple, practical ideas can help a company move toward better conditions for animals. The experience also shows how advocates can answer common excuses from companies with ambitious, practical solutions. With this approach, conversations open more easily, and solutions become clearer to explore.
Shammy Coello Jairala, who led this work, shared a reflection that speaks to the heart of the campaign:
“Creative and strategic thinking in difficult moments can lead to unexpected solutions. Progress isn’t always fast, but it’s real. Our consistency is what moves the line.”
This message is a reminder that creativity and steady effort can move work forward in steady, lasting ways for companies, advocates, and the animals we aim to protect.
