ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. – Unilevers Hellmann’s brand has achieved its goal of using exclusively cage-free eggs in all its U.S. consumer mayonnaise and mayonnaise dressings three years ahead of schedule. Hellmann’s set the goal of 100% cage-free by 2020 in 2010 when only 2% of laying hens in the U.S. were cage-free.

“When Hellmann’s first made this commitment, there simply weren’t enough cage-free hens in America to supply the volume of eggs needed,” said Russel Lilly, marketing director at Hellmann’s. “The sheer number of eggs that go into Hellmann’s products — 331 million a year — means we had to completely rebuild our supply chain in order to make our goal a reality.”

Hellmann’s and Unilever have proven yet again that doing well goes hand-in-hand with doing good,” said Matthew Prescott, senior food policy director for The Humane Society of the United States. “People want animal welfare assurances when it comes to the food they buy, and Hellmann’s move shows just how in sync the company is with its customers.”

Product labeling will remind consumers of Hellmann’s cage-free achievement along with its integrated marketing campaign, “On The Side of Food,” which includes new TV spots and digital advertising.