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Consumers opting for conventionally raised eggs
An egg market analyst says consumers are opting for conventional eggs over cage-free at the grocery stores.
Brian Moscogiuri with Urner Barry says following the outbreaks of avian influenza, cage-free eggs were temporarily cheaper, but as flocks have rebounded and production has increased there is now an over-supply of conventional eggs and consumers are taking notice. “At time eggs, a dozen large would be cheaper than 50 cents a dozen,” he says. “A good promotion, a market moving promotion is typically 99 cents a dozen or better – but we saw even more attractive ads because the wholesale prices were so low.”
He tells Brownfield the price difference at the store is currently two to three dollars a dozen. The average price for cage-free is $4 compared to $1 for conventional eggs.
Moscogiuri says several food companies have pledged to source their eggs from cage-free hens but are starting to worry because consumers are choosing eggs based more on price. “In those announcements they put those caveats in there that said they would transition within the next 10 years but monitor sales and make sure that is what the consumer wants,” he says. “Maybe they’ve given themselves a way out if they do see sales really transition back towards generically or conventionally raised eggs.”
He says those same companies are also nervous about the potential reaction from animal rights groups if they back away from their pledges to buy cage-free.
AUDIO: Brian Moscogiuri, Urner Barry
You have every right to be afraid. Many AR groups/individuals have no problem with harassment, property damage and threats to family. Generally consumers are busy working people and have no time to fight the AR agenda. Many are people who are also afraid to cross the ARs in any way. No one wans to be bullied but neither do we want these mentally ill people destroying us in any way they can find.