April 17, 2008

UK in free-range egg shortage

A skyrocketing demand for free-range eggs in the UK has led to a shortage in supply.

A recent awareness of the plight of standard chickens has led to a sharp increase in the sales of free-range eggs, and the demand has now exceeded the supply with retailers saying that adequate supply could only come in December. 

Since January, free-range sales have gone up by 50 to 100 percent at different supermarkets which led to the supply shortage, according to The Telegraph.

Company executives from UK's largest egg packers have been touring the country asking farmers to convert to free-range in order to ensure supply.

Poultry purchaser for major retailer Sainsbury's, David Kettle, said sales of high welfare and free-range chicken rose by 53 percent in the first quarter compared to 2007.

There has been a significant consumer preference shift, and the retailers are struggling to meet the demand, according to Kettle.

"We were looking at moving more into that area. Unfortunately even that has not been enough and we are still not meeting demand," said Kettle.