Mixed box for free range egg producers

Some free range producers have benefited from price rises recently, although a number of packers are currently keeping their cards close to the chest.

Yorkshire Farmhouse Eggs has added two pence to the price it pays its producers for extra large and large eggs. For its Hoads eggs, the firm has also added two pence to the price of medium eggs as well as extra large and large. Adrian Potter said it was an attempt to help producers in what were still difficult times, although he said there were some slight signs of improvement for free range producers.

"There are signs that the market is tightening up a bit, although there is still egg out there if you want it. I don’t think supermarkets will be doing anything at the moment because consumers are under pressure but at least feed prices have come down a bit," said Adrian.

Eggsell introduced a three pence increase across the board a few weeks ago and there could be more to come for its producers. "There is probably another rise imminent but I can’t say any more at the moment," said Stewart Elliott.

Sunrise has introduced a slight increase on smalls and seconds. Chris Stocks said it was an attempt to help producers, although the market was still difficult.

One Oaklands producer has told the Ranger of a three pence increase, although the Shropshire-based company would say only that it was talking to its producers individually to see how it could help them through the current difficulties. It said its position had not changed from that outlined to the Ranger in September. At that time Elwyn Griffiths said there were still too many free range eggs on the market. He said that others were selling free range eggs too cheaply, making it unsustainable.

Elwyn said he did recognise the difficulties that producers were facing. "These are dire times for both free range and colony producers. They are under incredible financial pressure and we are talking to individuals to see if we can help address their individual needs." He said that the company would be dealing with each producer individually to see how it could help them stay in business in these difficult times. Everything would be done in total confidence.

Noble, the country’s biggest packer, said there was no price increase planned at the moment, but Tom Willings, the company’s contract producers and farms director, said he was cautiously optimistic about the future. "We are going through producer meetings at the moment," said Tom. He said he was optimistic about the market generally and about the prospect of securing a price rise in the future, even though there was surplus egg on the market at the moment. "Over the 18 months to August the amount of egg sold on promotion has increased from two per cent to 27 per cent. That tells you something. There are too many eggs around."

Stonegate told the Ranger that it had nothing to say on a possible price rise at the moment. One Stonegate producer said they had been told there was no rise on the cards before Christmas.

Similarly, there is no movement at the moment at Fridays. The company said it was continuing to watch the market.