Why is Art ignoring
animal cruelty?
What’s the problem?
Wendy’s is still using a cruel practice in its supply chain that its fast food competitors like McDonald’s won’t even use. Wendy’s sources the majority of its eggs from inhumane and controversial battery cage farms, where chickens are confined to cages so tightly they can barely move around. Wendy’s isn’t only falling behind McDonald’s, many leading food companies around the world are phasing this practice out. Battery cages are even illegal in many U.S. sates and the entire European Union.
So why does Wendy’s continue to support caging animals? Because its leaders are more concerned with raking in profits than doing the right thing.
Who is Art Winkleblack?
Art is a career executive with decades of experience. He most recently served as Senior Advisor to the CEO of Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, a global leader in asset management and disposition. Prior to that, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Heinz until his retirement in 2013. He has also held senior executive positions at various private-equity owned businesses and PepsiCo. He currently serves on the board of Church & Dwight Co.. Most importantly, in 2016, he joined the Board of Directors at Wendy's.
Under his watch, animals have suffered.
Customers looking for social responsibility should look elsewhere.
Wendy’s claims it is committed to “responsible sourcing” when it comes to eggs, yet it continues to use eggs from caged hens. Meanwhile, many of its competitors in the restaurant industry have already transitioned or are making significant progress towards sourcing exclusively cage-free eggs. McDonald's, Taco Bell, Chipotle, and Starbucks have achieved 100% cage-free status, while chains like Burger King, Jack in the Box, Subway, and dozens of others are well on their way. Is Art to blame for Wendy’s lack of action?
Should anyone be surprised by Wendy’s unethical business practices? The company is no stranger to scandals. Among many controversies over the years, it has been accused of enabling modern-day slavery in its supply chain, infringing on its workers’ privacy rights, and sickening customers through unchecked E. coli outbreaks that caused permanent health conditions like brain damage and kidney failure.
The company has even been sued for misleading customers about cage-free eggs.