Aldi has stopped selling eggs from caged hens as it hits its target to go cage-free “more than a year ahead of schedule”.

The discounter’s move follows its work with suppliers to transition into offering higher hen welfare in recent years.

The change, which means all of Aldi’s eggs are now British Lion Code approved, will see the supermarket sell more British free-range eggs than any other UK supermarket, according to data from Kantar.

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The supermarket has made a £50m investment into UK egg farming and producers over the past two years.

Alongside this financial investment, it has also introduced long-term contracts for its egg suppliers in a bid to provide support to the industry.

Aldi managing director of buying Julie Ashfield said: “Improving animal welfare is incredibly important to us at Aldi, and by working with our suppliers we have been able to hit our 100% cage-free target more than a year early.

“Our British suppliers are at the heart of our business and without them Aldi wouldn’t be where it is today and we are proud to work with so many UK egg farmers.”

Earlier this year, the grocer made further strides to improve animal welfare practises with the introduction of new stocking density requirements for its fresh chicken supplier.