Egg buy restrictions take impact at extra main US grocery shops

‘Barron’s Roundtable’ panelists Megan Leonhardt, Al Root and Ben Levisohn talk about avian flu and high shares.

Costco, Kroger and Complete Meals are among the many rising listing of grocers which can be placing a buying restrict on eggs as provide shortages persist. 

Corporations began imposing limits on the product because the scarcity brought on by outbreaks of extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or chicken flu, persists, inflicting a frenzy amongst customers. Droves of viral movies have surfaced in current weeks, displaying customers stockpiling eggs. One video posted on TikTok claimed that a complete part of eggs at a Costco was gone in lower than 10 minutes.

Amazon-owned Complete Meals posted indicators on its cabinets notifying clients that clients can solely purchase three cartons of eggs at one time. 

“We are currently experiencing difficulty sourcing eggs that meet our strict animal welfare standards,” an indication posted at considered one of its shops in New York Metropolis learn.

TRADER JOE’S PUTS CAP ON HOW MANY EGGS SHOPPERS CAN BUY

Kroger confirmed to FOX Enterprise that some banner divisions are additionally limiting egg gross sales. At shops the place limits are in place, the corporate is asking clients to solely purchase two dozen eggs per journey, a spokesperson informed FOX Enterprise. 

Dealer Joe’s informed FOX Enterprise on Monday that it’s limiting egg purchases to 1 dozen per buyer, per day. The restrict applies to each Dealer Joe’s grocery retailer within the U.S., in accordance with the corporate. 

Costco additionally confirmed to CNN that it was limiting clients to a few packages of eggs. 

Specialists have warned that egg shortages will proceed as chicken flu outbreaks proceed to influence the U.S. laying hen flock. 

Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Basis, informed FOX Enterprise, estimated that greater than 136 million birds have been affected by avian influenza since 2022. In December, there have been over 18 million birds affected, which he mentioned led to “bare grocery shelves in some places and widespread higher prices.” 

Ticker Safety Final Change Change % AMZN AMAZON.COM INC. 233.14 +3.99
+1.74%
COST COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP. 1,061.92 +18.11
+1.73%
KR THE KROGER CO. 65.28 +0.28
+0.43%

Based on the Division of Agriculture (USDA), costs had been 36.8% greater in December 2024 than a yr earlier, however they had been nonetheless beneath peak costs in January 2023.

In 2025, the USDA predicted that egg costs, which might differ considerably from month to month, will improve by greater than 20%. 

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Cabinets usually stuffed with egg cartons at a Complete Meals retailer in New York Metropolis,  (Fox Enterprise)

Not solely are shoppers feeling the consequences of excessive egg costs on the grocery retailer, however they’re going through surcharges at eating places.

Notably, Waffle Home, a Southern breakfast meals chain, added a brief 50 cent per egg surcharge to all of its menus final week. The corporate blamed the continued egg scarcity for the dramatic improve in egg costs, saying that “consumers and restaurants are being forced to make difficult decisions.” 

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Smaller eateries, like New York-based Mexican café and bakery Ursula, are being impacted. Ursula proprietor and head chef Eric See informed FOX Enterprise that the costs of complete eggs have doubled, whereas the price of liquid eggs has risen by about 25%.