When Alumni Stand Up for Animals
A Bentley University graduate challenges Stop & Shop’s president to honor his alma mater's values—and his company's promise to hens.
Emily Raap
A Bentley University graduate challenges Stop & Shop’s president to honor his alma mater's values—and his company's promise to hens.
When corporations make promises to spare animals from cruelty, their own communities expect them to follow through. Now, one Bentley University graduate is calling on fellow alumnus and Stop & Shop president Roger Wheeler to honor both his alma mater’s values and his company’s commitment to hens.
The values we learn in school often shape our future actions. For Stacey Rick, a 2014 Bentley University graduate, these values recently inspired her to speak up for animals still suffering in Stop & Shop’s supply chain.
In a powerful letter to Stop & Shop president Roger Wheeler—also a Bentley alumnus—Rick appeals to their shared educational foundation. “As a proud Bentley alum, I feel a responsibility to encourage our community of leaders to uphold the values of integrity, accountability, and ethical leadership that Bentley instilled in us,” she writes.
Nearly a decade ago, Stop & Shop promised to eliminate cruel cages from its egg supply by 2025. These battery cages are so cramped that hens can't even spread their wings. The birds are forced to eat, sleep, and lay eggs in the same tiny space where they defecate—often alongside deceased cagemates.
Despite this clear ethical imperative, Stop & Shop has yet to fulfill its commitment. This delay stands in stark contrast to the principles of ethical leadership taught at institutions like Bentley University.
“You have the opportunity to set a powerful example by honoring Stop & Shop's cage-free promise,” Rick reminds Wheeler in her letter. “Doing so will not only align with the ethical leadership we learned at Bentley, but it will also positively impact customers, animals, and the industry as a whole.”
Rick’s appeal demonstrates how change often starts within our own communities. When corporations delay action for animals, it's often their own community members—customers, alumni, employees—who step up to hold executives accountable.
As more voices join the call for Stop & Shop to honor its commitment, the company faces a choice: fulfill its promise to animals or risk losing the trust of its own community members who expect better.
You can join this effort by signing the petition at StopAndShopShame.com and sharing your concerns with Stop & Shop leadership. Together, we can ensure corporations follow through on their promises to animals.
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