Emily Raap
When a company breaks its promise to animals, it’s the community that steps up. Advocates used their voices—and their presence—to call for real change at Stop & Shop’s doorstep.
For generations, Stop & Shop has been a fixture in Massachusetts—more than just a grocery store, it sees itself as a neighbor. But in May 2025, that relationship was put to the test as more than 30 protestors gathered for three consecutive days outside the company’s corporate headquarters in Quincy, demanding that Stop & Shop honor its commitment to spare hens from extreme confinement.
A promise broken, a community responds
Nearly a decade ago, Stop & Shop’s parent company, Ahold Delhaize, made a public promise: to eliminate cruel battery cages for egg-laying hens in its supply chains. But as the 2025 deadline arrived, so did the realization that the promise to hens—and to customers—remained unfulfilled.
Determined to hold their local grocer accountable, community members followed up on previous protests by converging at 1385 Hancock Street in Quincy on May 20, 21, and 22. Their message was clear: It’s time for Stop & Shop to keep its word and free the hens in its supply chain from cramped, barren cages.
It's clear as day, even without binoculars, that shoppers insist on better treatment for animals. And this is a point worth making, loudly and clearly. Whether it's face-to-face, through videos, through dazzling projections, during celebrations, in news reports, on industry holidays, right in stores, on signs for everyone to see, or even up in the air—the call for higher animal welfare standards is here to stay and demands to be heard.
Eyes on the street—and the office
Stop & Shop’s response? Employees watched the demonstration from their office windows—some even using binoculars to observe the crowd below. But the protestors weren’t deterred. They stood strong, holding signs, sharing stories, and reminding company leaders that real people in their own backyard care deeply about keeping corporations true to their word.
Why this matters
At the heart of this protest is a shared value: no animal should endure unnecessary suffering. The hens in Stop & Shop’s supply chains are still confined in cages so restrictive they can’t even spread their wings. It’s a reality that doesn’t sit right with most shoppers—whether they’re vegan, omnivore, or simply believe that companies should do what they say.
Massachusetts has led the way on animal protection with laws banning extreme confinement for farm animals. Now, residents are asking their local businesses to match those values—not just in words, but in action nationwide.
Change starts with us
The Quincy protests were peaceful, powerful, and impossible to ignore. By showing up, neighbors sent a message: Our choices, our voices, and our presence matter. When communities stand together, companies listen.
Want to help keep the pressure on? Visit StopAndShopShame.com to add your name and help ensure that Stop & Shop’s promise to hens becomes a reality.
