‘A Core Tenet of the Hospitality Space Is that You Focus on People Over Profits’

We can expect to see a prolonged period of higher egg prices through the Easter and well into 2025, according to a report from CoBank. While this can be largely attributed to supply challenges associated with bird flu which has affected nearly 100 million egg-laying hens since 2022,  it's not the only factor. The report found demand for eggs has skyrocketed , with per capita consumption growing 20 percent from 2016-2019. Additionally, demand has shifted to cage-free and other specialty eggs with nine states enacting laws that require eggs sold in their states to be from cage-free hens.

“Egg demand was relatively stable in the early 2000s and seasonality played a much bigger role in peak demand periods than it does today,” said Brian Earnest, lead animal protein economist with CoBank. “While seasonality remains an influencing factor, egg use has grown dramatically over the last 20 years. Eggs have become a staple item for innovation in quick-service restaurant…