Compass Group India and Global Food Partners Drive Cage‑Free Egg Production and Farmer Training

Global Food Partners (GFP), a global consultancy helping food businesses achieve higher animal welfare standards in their supply chains, today announced it has supported Compass Group India, a leader in food services, to drive cage-free egg production and support local farmers in India.

According to the Release of Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics 2025 (2024–25) published by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, the country is the world’s second-largest producer of eggs, with total production estimated at 149.11 billion eggs in 2024–25, reflecting steady year-on-year growth. However, an Ernst & Young report titled Transitioning to Cage-Free: A Roadmap for Corporates in the Egg Supply Chain highlights that a significant share of this production still relies on conventional battery cage systems, underscoring both the urgency and the opportunity to transition towards higher-welfare egg production practices.

Due to limited cage-free supplies and regional market gaps, Compass Group India is using cage-free credits to offset a portion of its caged egg purchases. GFP administers the Impact Incentives programme; cage-free credits enable food businesses to directly support egg farmers making a sustainable transition to cage-free production—while helping to build and secure future supply.

Compass Group has initially purchased around 4,000 cage-free credits in India, with each credit offsetting the purchase of 1,000 caged eggs—a total of four million eggs. The funds for this credit purchase go directly to three farms in India—U and V Agro, Hensway India, and Happy Hens Farm—to expand their cage-free capacities and invest in their logistics networks.

Via Compass Group Foundation, Compass Group India and other partners have also launched a new cage-free and free-range training centre with GFP as technical partner. The training centre, located outside of Bangalore, will support local farmers in their transitions to cage-free systems, teach best practices in egg production and management, and help farmers achieve long-term sustainability and profitability in their industry.

“Compass Group India has shown enormous leadership and innovation in not only their own cage-free commitments, but also in driving substantial, foundational change in how eggs are produced and supplied throughout India,” said GFP CEO Elissa Lane. “Their commitment to responsible sourcing extends to the new training centre that meaningfully supports farmers and strengthens the nation’s food system.”

Compass Group has published a complete Animal Welfare Progress Report for 2026 with more details.

Other industry giants that have adopted Impact Incentives as part of their cage-free strategy include Kellanova, Best Western Hotels, Lagardère Travel Retail, and PizzaExpress. By sourcing cage-free eggs whenever possible, and using cage-free credits to address any supply-chain shortfalls, companies can report 100 percent compliance with cage-free mandates. GFP currently focuses on egg production throughout Asia, and has capabilities in Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Latin America.

About Compass Group India

Compass Group India is a subsidiary of Compass Group PLC, the world’s leading provider of contract food and support services. Compass Group India has been serving the Indian Workplace, Education and Healthcare market needs since 2008 through corporate cafeterias, global capability centres (GCCs), manufacturing-led demand, and technology-led services. Its sector-focused businesses give its clients access to unrivalled experience, global best practices, and market-leading innovations.

About Global Food Partners

Global Food Partners (GFP) is a Singapore-based consulting company dedicated to helping food and hospitality businesses achieve cage-free sourcing, and egg producers to implement and optimise cage-free production practices. GFP operates across Asia, including in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and India.

Govt Launches Accelerator for Dairy Startups and Rs.15,000 Crore Animal Husbandry Fund

Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) offers financial support to entrepreneurs, private companies, MSME and Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs)

The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, with a view to provide dedicated focus towards promoting & facilitating investments in the Indian Dairy sector, has setup Dairy Investment Accelerator under its Investment Facilitation Cell. This Investment Accelerator is a cross functional team constituted to serve as the interface with investors. It shall provide support across the investment cycle:

• Offering specific inputs for evaluation of investment opportunities
• Addressing queries about application to govt. schemes
• Connecting with strategic partners
• Providing on-ground assistance with state departments & relevant authorities

Further, the Dairy Investment Accelerator will work with DAHD to organize a series of events with global & local industry participants and one-on-one discussions with the investors to understand their perspectives, facilitate direct interactions with government officials and connects with other players in the industry.

Dairy Investment Accelerator is also generating awareness among investors about Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development fund (AHIDF). AHIDF is one of the flagship schemes by DAHD, Government of India whereby Rs. 15,000 crore fund has been setup for offering financial support to entrepreneurs, private companies, MSME, Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs), and Section 8 companies. 

Eligible entities can avail the benefits of the scheme to set up new units or expand existing units in areas of dairy processing & related value addition infrastructure, meat processing & related value addition infrastructure and Animal Feed Plant. The benefits available are:

• 3% interest subvention on loans
• 2-year moratorium with 6-year repayment period
• INR 750 Cr credit guarantee

The DAHD encourages all the private companies, individual entrepreneurs, and start-ups, who are interested in investing in Dairy sector, to reach out to the Dairy Investment Accelerator on dairy-accelerator@lsmgr.nic.in.

India is the largest milk producer contributing 23% of global milk production. Annual milk production in the country has grown by 6.4% (CAGR) in the past 5 years. Dairy is a high priority sector for Government of India due to its socio-economic significance. It is the single largest agricultural commodity contributing 5% of the national economy and employing 80 Mn+ farmers directly. Further, the country boasts a large domestic packaged dairy products of market worth Rs. 2.7-3.0 lakh crore witnessing a strong double-digit growth.

The market growth in Dairy requires support of significant infrastructure investment across processing, chilling, logistics, cattle feed etc. Further, lucrative untapped opportunities exist in areas such as value-added dairy products, organic/ farm fresh milk and exports. The Dairy sector has seen substantial foreign direct investment (FDI) constituting about 40% of FDIs Indian food sector. To facilitate the infrastructure growth, Central/ State Governments have released various incentives to attract investments in this sector.