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Nine animal rights activists were arrested Sept. 23 after chaining themselves to Kroger’s headquarters in downtown Cincinnati. Police said none of those arrested were from the Cincinnati area. About 60 people participated in the protest, which called on Kroger to strengthen its commitment to cage-free eggs. Police said the arrests involved charges including criminal trespassing and resisting arrest.
Nine animal rights activists were arrested Wednesday after protesters chained themselves to Kroger’s downtown Cincinnati headquarters, police said.
None of the nine people arrested were from the Cincinnati area, according to Interim Cincinnati Police Chief Adam Hennie.
The protest involved about 60 activists calling on Kroger to strengthen its cage-free egg policy.
Kroger protest draws about 60 activists
The demonstration took place Sept. 23 outside Kroger’s corporate headquarters at 1014 Vine St. in downtown Cincinnati.
According to Cincinnati police, some protesters chained themselves to the entrance facing Court Street. Cincinnati firefighters responded to help cut the chains.
Police blocked Vine and Court streets during the demonstration, temporarily affecting traffic around the headquarters.
Hennie said the nine arrests involved charges ranging from criminal trespassing to resisting arrest. Police described the demonstration as peaceful overall, and no injuries were reported.
“We start[ed] with internal dialogue with them, once that goes ignored, our campaign typically escalates to a protest stage, which we’ve been doing here in Cincinnati for a while,” said Dane Charbeneau, Animal Equality’s Campaigns Manager.
Arrested protesters came from outside Cincinnati
Police said none of the nine people arrested were from Cincinnati or the surrounding local area.
The protesters came from several states, including Texas, Massachusetts, Nevada, Virginia, Illinois, North Carolina, Florida and Pennsylvania, according to information released by police and reported by WLWT.
The arrests included the people who had chained themselves to the Kroger building.
Hennie said police sought to protect protesters’ First Amendment rights but said the actions taken Wednesday went beyond a typical demonstration.
Why Animal Equality is protesting Kroger
Animal Equality, an international animal-protection organization, is protesting Kroger over the company’s policy on eggs from caged hens. The group says Kroger has backed away from a previous commitment to eliminate cage-free eggs from its supply chain.
In 2016, Kroger announced a goal of transitioning to a 100% cage-free egg supply chain by the end of 2025. The company said it would work with suppliers to make cage-free eggs available while keeping them safely produced and affordable for customers.
Animal Equality says Kroger changed that goal in 2022, reducing the target to 70% cage-free eggs by 2030. The organization says Kroger currently has no public plan to completely eliminate eggs from caged hens from its U.S. supply chain.
Animal Equality has been demonstrating outside Kroger’s Cincinnati headquarters since May and says Wednesday’s protest was an escalation after previous efforts to engage the company. The group wants Kroger to meet with its representatives and establish a clear plan to fully end the use of cages for hens in its egg supply.
Kroger said it has met with and listened to leaders of the campaign. The company said it supports animal welfare while also focusing on affordable choices for customers, particularly as families face higher food costs.
The nine protesters face criminal charges stemming from Wednesday’s demonstration. The specific outcomes of their cases will depend on the court process.
The protest also puts renewed attention on Kroger’s egg-sourcing policies and the company’s previous cage-free commitments.
FAQs
What is Animal Equality?
Animal Equality is an international animal-protection organization that campaigns against what it describes as cruelty toward farmed animals. The organization has been advocating for changes to Kroger’s egg-sourcing policies.
When did Kroger first announce its cage-free commitment?
Kroger announced its original cage-free egg commitment in 2016. The company said it aimed to transition to a 100% cage-free egg supply chain by the end of 2025.
How long has Animal Equality been protesting Kroger?
Animal Equality said it began demonstrations outside Kroger’s Cincinnati headquarters in May 2026. The September protest was described by the organization as an escalation of its campaign.
