British eggs under threat as production costs bite

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Trade body the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) says egg farmers are face unprecedented cost increases, leaving many on the brink of bankruptcy.

They are losing money on every egg they produce and the situation has been made worse by the war in Ukraine, which is pushing up the cost of feed.

Many farmers are choosing to stop producing eggs as a result, says the council.

Feed increases are at the forefront of the surge in costs, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine which has added 25p to 30p per dozen to feed costs.

Andrew Joret, chairman of the BEIC, said: “The tidal wave of cost increases will see many family farms, some of which have been producing eggs for generations, going under in a matter of days, unless something is done quickly.”

According to the BEIC, the availability of British eggs on supermarket shelves is “seriously under threat” if these costs are not passed on.

Joret added: “The situation was unsustainable prior to the terrible war, but feed prices have accelerated dramatically in a way never before seen and farmers cannot absorb these costs and carry on with a viable business.

“Ten years ago, you might typically have paid £1.35 for six medium eggs, which today often cost less than £1 which is a third of the price of a barista coffee.”

The BEIC has written to the bosses of the major UK retailers, stressing that unless urgent action is taken in the next two weeks, the normal supply of British eggs is under severe threat.

Cost increases, according to the council, include the following:

  • Feed up by about 50%
  • Transport up by about 30%
  • Energy increase of about 40%
  • Packaging up by about 15%

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