Kelli Valade, CEO of Denny’s, allows extreme cruelty toward pregnant pigs
Kelli Valade, who oversees both Denny’s and Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, is trying to sweep animal cruelty under the rug.
Amid ongoing national protests at Denny’s and Keke’s restaurants, the company continues purchasing from farms that use intensive confinement methods for pigs.
An overwhelming majority of Americans believe that keeping animals in tiny cages for nearly their entire lives is extremely cruel.
Why does “America’s Diner” allow this extreme form of animal abuse?
As Denny’s CEO, Kelli Valade must move her company towards adopting more ethical business practices. Pregnant pigs do not deserve to live in cages so small they can’t even turn around. No animal does.
Forcing pregnant pigs to live in coffin-like cages is cruel
In 2012, Denny’s made a public commitment to eliminate the confinement of pregnant pigs—just as their competitors have done—yet little progress has been made.
Being trapped in these cages is physically and emotionally devastating for these intelligent animals.
As their pregnant bodies grow, the space inside the cages becomes tighter, restricting their movements even more.
These pigs are kept in solitary cages with no stimulation. They become sick, injured, and severely depressed while they stare at metal bars day and night.
Meanwhile, Kelli Valade and Denny’s continue business as usual.
Nothing justifies keeping animals in such miserable conditions.
Denny’s ignores public calls to end animal abuse
In the middle of a nationwide campaign calling for an end to gestation cages, with over 53,000 messages sent to Denny’s by the public, Denny’s continues to ignore its customers.
It is shameful for a company to be publicly criticized for animal cruelty and steadfastly refuse to address the issue.
Caging animals is illegal in 11 U.S. states and several countries. Removing these cages is the minimum Denny’s must do to reduce these animals’ suffering.
If Denny’s CEO, Kelli Valade, truly stands for ethical leadership, she should use her influential position to steer the company towards better business practices and ending the extreme confinement of pigs.
Dane Charbeneau
Campaigns Manager
Animal Equality
Advocates expose Denny’s cruelty at the IFA Convention
In February 2024, activists stood outside the International Franchise Association Convention in Phoenix (Arizona), where Kelli Valade gave a speech on empathy and leadership.
We asked attendees to consider whether it was appropriate for Denny’s CEO to advise on these topics when she actively ignored over 53,000 public messages to ban cages and allowed nationwide protests at Denny’s restaurants.
Many people heard our message and were horrified to learn about Denny’s association with animal cruelty, with several attendees thanking us for bringing this to their attention.
Most people will agree that animal cruelty is unacceptable, and we will not let large corporations get away with prioritizing profits over basic animal welfare standards.
CONTACT DENNY’S
Franchise Association BOARD MEMBERS
Board member of the Denny’s Franchise Association and Chair of its Strategic Supply Chain Committee
Board member of the Denny’s Franchise Association and on the Strategic Supply Chain Committee
Board member of the Denny’s Franchise Association and Denny’s Ambassador
Finn Partners’ ties with Denny’s animal cruelty
Finn Partners is a public relations agency working with Denny’s amid their animal cruelty scandal.
There is no way to humane wash cruelty, and Finn Partners needs to hear from you! Click on the link below to learn more, and contact Finn Partners.
Disclaimer: Images of standard factory farms with cages. They do not necessarily supply to Denny’s.