Alex Wolfe
At an iconic movie location, locals reminded Stop & Shop that cruelty has no place on the grocery list.
The Clifton Stop & Shop may be famous for a Happy Gilmore scene—but this weekend, it made headlines for a far different reason.
Local residents and animal advocates gathered outside the grocery store to call out Stop & Shop and its parent company, Ahold Delhaize, for breaking their public promise to end cages in their supply chain.
The protest drew quick media attention, with coverage in The Clifton Times, NJ.com, and The Clifton Patch. Reporters noted that while other major grocers have honored their commitments to move forward on cage-free eggs, Stop & Shop continues to fall short—leaving hens trapped in cages and shoppers frustrated by the company’s inaction.
This plot twist hurts hens
When asked about the protest, Stop & Shop pointed only to an old December press release, sidestepping the community’s concerns. For local shoppers, that wasn’t good enough. People want honesty and action—not corporate spin. Unlike Happy Gilmore, this wasn’t played for laughs—advocates had serious words for Stop & Shop.
“Ahold Delhaize can’t claim to be a sustainability leader while ignoring its own animal welfare failures,” said Emily Raap, Senior Campaigns Lead at The Humane League. “Consumers want, and expect, grocery stores to move forward, not backward.”
“Consumers deserve better. They deserve honesty and food that’s safe and responsibly sourced,” added Alex Wolfe, Sr. Regional Organizing Manager. “It’s time for Ahold Delhaize and Stop & Shop to live up to the promise they willingly and publicly made to end cages in their supply chain.”
Behind the scenes, hens still suffer
This isn’t just about corporate policies—it’s about living beings. Every broken promise means more hens spending their lives crammed into cages, unable to spread their wings. And every shopper deserves the right to know that the food they buy doesn’t come at such a cost.
The Clifton protest is part of a growing movement of consumers who are demanding better from corporations. It shows that when communities speak up, companies are forced to listen.
Be part of the next act
The protest in Clifton is proof that your voice matters. Here’s how you can keep the pressure on:
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Share your concerns with Stop & Shop leadership.
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Choose retailers that have already ended cages from their supply chains, if that’s accessible to you.
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Join local advocacy efforts and help shine a light on corporate accountability.
The script is written—but the ending is ours to change. Together, we can make sure Stop & Shop’s broken promises don’t fade to black. Take action today to help hens get the freedom they deserve.
