The following tables outline various facts and figures about egg production, consumption, market breakdown and other industry data.
These figures were updated on 2 May 2019 and are for year ending 31 December 2018 (unless otherwise stated). Due to anomolies in the import/export data, which are under investigation by HMRC, these statistics will remain provisional estimates until further notice
|
Egg market size in 2018 (industry estimate) |
|
|---|---|
|
UK Production |
11,139 million eggs |
|
Imports |
1,897 million eggs |
|
Exports |
188 million eggs |
|
Total UK Consumption |
13,148 million eggs (+2%) |
|
UK self-sufficiency |
87% |
Number of eggs eaten each day, and each year
|
Number of eggs eaten in the UK in 2018 (industry estimate - based on population of 66m) |
|
|---|---|
|
Total per annum |
13,148 million (13.1 billion) |
|
Per capita |
199 |
|
Number per day |
36 million |
Retail
|
Retail egg market 2018 (industry estimate) |
|
|---|---|
|
Sales value |
£1,035m (+5%) |
|
Sales volume |
7.2bn (+4%) |
|
UK egg market breakdown for 2018 (industry estimate) |
|
|---|---|
|
Retail (shell eggs) |
56% |
|
Egg Products (eggs processed for food manufacture/foodservice) |
21% |
|
Foodservice (shell eggs) |
23% |
|
Retail sector - outlet share 2018 (industry estimate) |
|
|---|---|
|
Multiples |
64.9% |
|
Discounters |
22.6% |
|
Co-ops |
3.6% |
|
Market Stalls |
1.1% |
|
Independents and symbols |
1.1% |
|
Butchers |
0.9% |
|
Bargain stores |
1.5% |
|
Others |
4.3% |
Egg types
|
Egg type breakdown |
|
|---|---|
|
Total Market (Defra) 2018 |
|
|
Laying cage |
44% |
|
Free Range |
54% (inc estimated 2% organic) |
|
Barn |
1% |
|
Retail Sector (Kantar) 2018 |
|
|
Laying cage |
35% |
|
Free Range |
63% (inc estimated 1.5% organic) |
|
Barn |
2% |
|
UK laying flock - industry estimate |
|
|---|---|
|
2018 |
41m |
Egg consumption in the UK
Since 2006, egg consumption in the UK has grown year on year, rising by 3bn eggs over that period. This is an average growth of 260m eggs per year. The UK has seen 12 years of continuous consumption growth. Free range sales have also risen sharply and now represent 63% of retail egg sales, which is double their level in 2004 (32%). Overall production of free range eggs, which will also include eggs for foodservice and food manufacturing has also doubled from 27% to 54%.
Overall per capita consumption has grown from 171 eggs per person per year to 199 eggs per person per year from 2004 to 2018. The vast majority of growth has been in retail consumption, which has risen from 83 eggs per person per year to 109 eggs per person per year (a rise of 26 eggs of the total rise of 28 eggs). The majority of eggs are sold through the retail channel, equating to about 56% of total sales up from 48% in 2004, while foodservice equates for 23% and food manufacturing 21%.
The value of retail egg sales is just over £1bn, which has risen by approximately £400m since 2004. Most of those eggs (87%) are sold through multiple retailers
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Download Industry data 2004 - 2017.