The owner of Burford Brown eggs has warned that supplies are at risk following bird flu outbreaks and soaring production costs.
Clarence Court said in financial documents that as large UK supermarkets are putting a stop to the sale of caged eggs, many poultry farmers are likely to take their business elsewhere, The Telegraph reported.
While there is currently no shortage of eggs, Burford Brown’s eggs owner has warned that the likelihood of future issues is increasing.
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Last November, British egg producers warned of shortages as UK farmers struggled with the uncertainty surrounding bird flu, resulting in some downsizing their flocks and even leaving the industry.
At the time, British Free Range Egg Producers Association found that around 165 farmers had to temporarily or permanently cease production.
As a result, retailers including Lidl, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda were seen limiting the number of eggs that customers could purchase.
Clarence Court parent company, Stonegate Farmers chief executive, Adrian Gott, told The Telegraph: “Producers have felt cost increases in all aspects of the business, encompassing feed, energy, labour, transportation and, in respect of new investment, cost of materials and cost to raise finance.
“These have all compounded to impact the willingness of producers to invest in new infrastructure to house new free-range or organic flocks, and with the impending move away from caged egg by retailers this is putting pressure on the supply of egg.”
