天价鸡蛋定价促使华夫饼屋增加附加费

Egg prices continue to soar to unprecedented levels in a development that has pressured many food-related companies and caused significant concern among consumers. The average cost of a dozen Grade A large eggs was $4.15 in December, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but much higher prices are being reported in certain cities, particularly on the East Coast and West Coast.

By far, the most significant factor driving up egg prices is the ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as bird flu. This deadly strain of H5N1 has led to the culling of millions of chickens since 2022, severely impacting the egg supply chain. As of January 2025, more than 134 million birds have been affected in the United States, which has thrown the supply and demand balance out of whack.

The latest guidance from the USDA was that egg prices are likely to push even higher in 2025.

In a sign of the times, Georgia-based Waffle House has added a temporary surcharge of $0.50 per egg at its ~2,100 locations due to the elevated egg prices from the bird flu outbreak. "The continuing egg shortage caused by HPAI (Bird Flu) has caused a dramatic increase in egg prices," noted Waffle House in a statement. "Consumers and restaurants are being forced to make difficult decisions."

Meanwhile, grocery store operators Albertsons Companies (ACI), Kroger (NYSE:KR), Sprouts Farmers Markets (SFM), Ingles Markets (IMKTA), Weis Markets (WMK), Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NGVC), and Whole Foods (AMZN) have all raised prices 

Egg prices are also very relevant to producer Cal-Maine Foods (NASDAQ:CALM), which has seen a 91% share price rally over the last 52 weeks. Other companies that have mentioned egg prices on recent earnings conference calls include Tractor Supply (TSCO), Vital Farms (VITL), McDonald's (MCD), Grocery Outlet (GO), First Watch Restaurant Group (FWRG), and Post Holdings (POST).