Waitrose has invested £2.6 million in its egg farmers as it remains one of the few supermarkets to not impose purchase limits.
While other retailers like Tesco, Asda, Lidl, M&S, and Morrisons are rationing the sale of egg boxes as the impacts of rising costs and bird flu continue to take their toll, Waitrose has been able to avoid enforcing restrictions.
The supermarket chain said it has no plans to introduce such limits, adding that it is confident it has “strong availability of British free-range eggs available for purchase both online and in our shops.”
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Waitrose said its £2.6 million investment will go directly to farmers to support them with soaring production costs such as energy and chicken feed, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is driving up farmers’ energy bills.
Sainsbury’s and the Co-op have also not introduced any limits, with Co-op saying it is continuing to monitor the situation.
Earlier this month, Asda and Lidl announced limits on egg purchases at some of their stores, followed by Tesco, M&S and Morrisons in the last few days.
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called for an “urgent investigation” into the egg supply chain disruption.
The NFU said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) should look into whether a declaration should be made under the Agriculture Act 2020 to ensure “much-needed support” for egg producers.
The Government said the situation is being monitored but insisted the UK’s food supply chain is “resilient” and that no “significant impact” is expected overall.
Waitrose executive director James Bailey said: “Without our farmers, we can’t function as a business.
“We’ve cultivated longstanding relationships with our suppliers and paying our farmers fairly and offering our customers free-range British eggs are commitments that we simply won’t sacrifice, even when the going gets tough.”
Bailey added: “We continue to have a good supply of 100% British free-range eggs, which we believe in part is testament to these strong relationships and our commitment to our farmers.
“With shortages elsewhere in the market, we have seen a slight rise in demand but we’re working hard to ensure we continue to have quality, high welfare products on our shelves.”
The news comes as Waitrose cuts a scene from its Christmas advert that showed two farmers comparing sun tans, following criticism from a skin cancer charity and patients.
