Click here to see the updated page on retailer’s commitments
The latest Kantar Worldpanel data can give us an up to date picture of the current situation in the egg sector. The data shows cage egg sales account for 34% of egg sales in the 52 week period ending 24th March 2019. This is down 4% on the previous year.
Free range egg sales accounted for 63% of eggs sold in the year ending 24th March 2019, this is up 4% from the previous year.
Figure 2: Kantar Worldpanel retail egg sales - 52 weeks ending 24 March 2019
Retailer | Total sales (000 units) | Barn % | Organic % | Free range % | None Free range % |
Total Tesco | 1,585,768 | 0% | 1% | 56% | 43% |
Total Sainsbury's | 652,313 | 13% | 4% | 83% | 0% |
Total Asda | 831,607 | 0% | 1% | 64% | 35% |
Total Morrisons | 523,032 | 0% | 1% | 69% | 30% |
Total Iceland | 296,330 | 0% | 1% | 21% | 77% |
Total Waitrose | 176,455 | 0% | 11% | 89% | 0% |
Aldi | 834,215 | 0% | 1% | 56% | 43% |
Lidl | 616,616 | 0% | 1% | 51% | 48% |
Budgens | 2,633 | 0% | 0% | 75% | 0% |
Total Independents & Symbols | 67,080 | 0% | 0% | 65% | 34% |
Total Marks & Spencer | 77,282 | 0% | 2% | 96% | 0% |
Currently only Sainsbury’s offer barn egg and sales are in decline in 2017 sales of barn accounted for 15% of egg sales. The average retail price of both cage and barn egg is 10p per egg whereas the average cost free range is 17p per egg. With 35% of consumers continuing to demand a value egg, retailers will have to put plans in place to provide consumers with a value option.
The NFU continues to speak with retailers to raise the following concerns:
- Planning: Producers need more details to be able to effectively plan and make the necessary changes to their businesses in the remaining nine-year timeframe up until 2025
- Investment: As a result of the decision to go cage-free a significant number of the 15-million birds housed in enriched cage systems will need housing in alternative production systems such as barn and free range. This inevitably will involve significant investment by farmers as additional housing will be required. This will take time, with planning permission and other factors such as financing factored in;
- Clarity: What are the alternative production systems, how will the transition to cage free be implemented and over what timeframe?
More links:
- Read more about Food Chain meetings over the last few months
Food business sourcing guide - showing how well-known high street brands like McDonald’s, Wetherspoons and Greggs are sourcing their food: view it here