The following tables outline various facts and figures about egg production, consumption, market breakdown and other industry data.
We are currently investigating some issues with the 2020 production data, which has delayed the updating of the these figures (as at 19 February 2021).
The figures below are therefore currently a mix of time periods including 2019 and 2020 (as stated).
|
Egg market size in 2019 (industry estimate) |
|
|---|---|
|
UK Production |
11,388 million eggs |
|
Imports |
1,676 million eggs |
|
Exports |
271 million eggs |
|
Total UK Consumption |
13,093 million eggs (+0%) |
|
UK self-sufficiency |
89% |
Number of eggs eaten each day, and each year
|
Number of eggs eaten in the UK in 2019 (industry estimate - based on population of 66m) |
|
|---|---|
|
Total per annum |
13,093 million (13.1 billion) |
|
Per capita |
197 |
|
Number per day |
36 million |
Retail
|
UK retail egg market 2020 (industry estimate) |
|
|---|---|
|
Sales value |
£1,321bn (+24%) |
|
Sales volume |
8.9bn (+19%) |
|
UK egg market breakdown for 2019 (industry estimate) |
|
|---|---|
|
Retail (shell eggs) |
59% |
|
Egg Products (eggs processed for food manufacture/foodservice) |
20% |
|
Foodservice (shell eggs) |
21% |
|
Retail sector - outlet share 2019 (industry estimate) |
|
|---|---|
|
Multiples |
64.5% |
|
Discounters |
22.6% |
|
Co-ops |
3.6% |
|
Market Stalls |
0.9% |
|
Independents and symbols |
0.9% |
|
Butchers |
0.8% |
|
Bargain stores |
1.7% |
|
Others |
5% |
Egg types
|
Egg type breakdown |
|
|---|---|
|
Total Market (Defra) 2019 |
|
|
Laying cage |
42% |
|
Free Range |
56% (inc estimated 3% organic) |
|
Barn |
2% |
|
Retail Sector (Kantar) 2020 |
|
|
Laying cage |
27.5% |
|
Free Range |
71% (inc estimated 2% organic) |
|
Barn |
1.5% |
|
UK laying flock - industry estimate |
|
|---|---|
|
2019 |
42m |
Egg consumption in the UK
-
Since 2006, egg consumption in the UK has grown year on year, rising by 3bn eggs (Kantar Worldpanel/industry estimates) over that period. This is an average growth of 260m eggs per year.
-
Free range sales have also risen sharply and now represent 67% of retail egg sales, which is double their level in 2004 (32%) (Kantar Worldpanel 2019 vs 2004 comparison).
-
Overall production of free range eggs, which will also include eggs for foodservice and food manufacturing has also more than doubled from 27% to 56% (DEFRA Egg Stats Notice - https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/egg-statistics).
-
Overall per capita consumption has grown from 171 eggs per person per year to 197 eggs per person per year from 2004 to 2019 (industry estimates based on a number of independent data sources, including DEFRA, ONS and HMRC). The vast majority of growth has been in retail consumption, which has risen from 1.6 eggs per person per week to 2.2 eggs per person per week, which equates 114 eggs per person per year (a rise of 31 eggs) (industry estimates using Kantar Worldpanel and ONS data).
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The majority of eggs are sold through the retail channel, equating to about 59% of total sales, up from 48% in 2004, while foodservice equates for 21% and food manufacturing 20% (Industry data based on Kantar Worldpanel and Government data comparing data from 2004 and 2019).
-
Between 2008 and 2019, retail egg sales showed particularly strong growth rising by 50%, and while all sectors of the population ate more eggs, growth was particularly strong among younger (18-44) consumers (Kantar Worldpanel, annual sales figures, with latest period 52 weeks ending 29 December 2019).
-
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 (Kantar Worldpanel 52 weeks ending 29 December 2019)
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Download Industry data 2004 - 2018.