Egg sales top six billion for first time since modern records began

Egg sales crack six billion
Egg sales crack six billion

Egg sales have topped six billion for the first time since modern records began, with soaring sales confirming British shoppers’ growing love affair with eggs.

The latest figures show a 4.8% increase in sales volume on the same period in 2016 (52 w/e 18 June 2017), which is the equivalent of around 300 million additional eggs sold.

Nutrition experts say that Brits are also being seduced by new superfoods, wrongly believing they are more nutritious than less expensive everyday foods such as eggs.

Andrew Joret, British Egg Industry Council Chairman, said: “Eggs are now seen as a healthy, nutrition-packed and versatile option, and sales are going from strength to strength as shoppers scramble to include them in their weekly shop.

“The exciting thing is that there are still many people who are yet to realise the many benefits of eggs, and I firmly believe that it’s only a matter of time before they do.

“The potential in the market is enormous, particularly when measured against per capita consumption elsewhere in Europe, and I expect sales to keep climbing.”

Potential egg shortage

The figures come as news that the UK could face a free range egg shortage this winter.

European egg producers, packers and retailers gave the stark warning to the European Commission, if it does not accept the sector’s proposed solution to the threat of avian influenza.

Following a large number of bird flu outbreaks across Europe this year, the egg sector across the EU had proposed that the EU Egg Marketing Regulations be amended to allow free range producers to use ‘winter-gardens’.