Shoppers are to pay up to 50% more for eggs now than at the start of the year amid reported shortages in the supply chain due to avian flu.
According to analysis from data analysts Assosia, just over 40% of the 149 fresh egg lines currently sold in all major retailers have seen price increases of at least 15% between the new year and the first week of November.
The largest price rise was at Asda, where a six-pack of large free-range eggs is 51.4% more expensive than it was at the start of the year.
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Across the egg category, 20 of the year’s 39 biggest price movers have been subject to at least one price hike over the past month.
The second biggest rise was on a Merevale large free-range egg six-pack sold by Aldi. A 10p hike to £1.49 towards the end of October made the product 50.5% dearer than when 2022 began.
According to a report by The Sun this week, some retailers were now considering rationing egg supplies or even importing from Poland to meet shortfalls.
The issues were “not surprising”, considering struggling producers had been calling for greater returns since March, suggested CEO for the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA), Robert Gooch.
“Price rises are now coming through rapidly, and some of our members have been offered a 15p increase on condition they extend contracts. But it’s been too little, too late.”
Gooch said he was “disappointed retailers have ignored concerns during the spring” which ultimately led to producers experiencing egg shortages.
A BEIC spokesman added: “Supply and demand does fluctuate with eggs, but we expect availability to return to normal levels when cost pressures ease.
“In the meantime, the industry will continue to work closely with retailers to get eggs from the farm onto shelves as quickly as possible to ensure we are able to meet consumer demand for British Lion eggs, which we know is what consumers expect.”
The news comes as British egg producers warned of possible shortages earlier in the week, as UK farmers struggle with the uncertainty surrounding bird flu.
