Struggling egg farmers warn of empty shelves
Egg farmers have warned that customers could face empty shelves as they consider shutting down production due to spiralling costs.
Farmers had called on supermarkets to increase their egg prices due to soaring feed and energy costs and the industry has now warned that producers are considering shutting down at the end of their current flock after their demands were ignored.
The British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) said the cost of feeding hens has jumped 50%, energy by 40%, fuel costs by 30%, and firms have also had to swallow more expensive labour and packaging.
The industry body says it has asked Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Aldi, Lidl, Marks and Spencer, and Waitrose to raise prices to help, without any success.
It said the price of freerange and organic eggs in supermarkets are now below a level whereby farmers can break even – calling for at least a 40p increase per dozen eggs.
A survey of egg producers by BFREPA found that 51% of farmers are "seriously considering stopping production" until the price they are paid improves.
A further 18% said they will make their decisions at the end of their current flock.
Robert Gooch, chief executive officer of the trade group, said: "There are clear and obvious cost increases being heaped upon farmers, and retailers simply aren't prepared to sufficiently adjusting the retail price.
"They are suffocating businesses.
"This situation is nothing more than supermarkets putting cheap food marketing tactics above the needs of the primary producer."