Price of key household staple surges 45% in just five months amid shortages
Supermarket egg prices have risen by as much as 45% in just five months, as shortages continue.
Analysis has found that as many as 57 shell egg ranges sold in UK stores have gone up in price by at least 10% since the start of this year, with many soaring by a far higher percentage.
Assosia data from trade magazine The Grocer found the biggest price move was for a Big ‘n’ Free large egg six-pack in Tesco, which has risen in price by 44.4% since the week beginning January 2.
The product is now £2.60, following a 10p increase a fortnight ago.
Shoppers are still facing a shortage of eggs in the supermarket (Getty Images)The second-biggest price move was for a Purely Organic mixed weight 10-pack in the same shop. At £4.50, is now 36.4% pricier than it was in the new year.
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A Happy Egg Co large six-pack sold by Sainsbury’s is now £2.70, 28.6% more expensive than it was at the start of January.
The price hikes come as UK consumers are still seeing shortages of eggs which first started occurring last autumn.
Last week, Tesco said they would continue to have a buying limit of three egg boxes per customer.
Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts also referred to the issue, saying he didn’t believe eggs would be “fully recovered for a while.”
The supply crisis came after the UK’s worst-ever outbreak of avian flu. All birds, including hens, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were required to be kept inside.
This also pushed up already-high heating and lighting costs for egg producers.
Restrictions ended last month, with eggs from outdoor hens now once again allowed to be labelled as free-range.
Falling hen numbers plateaued in January and have since gradually increased.
Data from the British Free Range Egg Producers Association has revealed thats laying hen numbers are now at 25.5 million across the free range egg sector, having risen from 25.1 million in January. Last May, they stood at 25.5 million.
The organisation’s CEO Robert Gooch said the situation at farm level had “changed dramatically” since the height of the egg supply crisis towards the end of 2022, meaning supply issues could soon come to an end.
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Andrew Opie, director of food & sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said:
“Rising inflation is a significant concern for both consumers and retailers. There are a number of pressures facing the egg industry including Avian Flu, and the rising cost of energy and animal feed, which has been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.
“But, despite these challenges, retailers are working with suppliers to manage prices to ensure affordability for all consumers.”
Sainsbury’s declined to comment.
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