The following tables outline various facts and figures about egg production, consumption, market breakdown and other industry data.
All figures for 2024 unless stated. Further updates will be made as additional data becomes available.
.
|
Egg market size in 2024 (industry estimate) |
|
|---|---|
|
UK Production |
11.9 billion eggs |
|
Imports |
2 billion eggs |
|
Exports |
408 million eggs |
|
Total UK Consumption |
13.6 billion eggs (+6% yoy) |
|
UK self-sufficiency |
88% |
Number of eggs eaten each day, and each year
|
Number of eggs eaten in the UK in 2024 (industry estimate - based on 68.3m population) |
|
|---|---|
|
Total per annum |
13.6 billion eggs |
|
Per capita |
199 |
|
Number per day |
37.2 million |
Retail
|
UK retail egg market 2024 (industry estimate) |
|
|---|---|
|
Sales value |
£1.9bn (+10%) |
|
Sales volume |
8.2bn (4%) |
|
UK egg market breakdown for 2024 (industry estimate) |
|
|---|---|
|
Retail (shell eggs) |
65% |
|
Egg Products (eggs processed for food manufacture / foodservice) |
17% |
|
Foodservice (shell eggs) |
18% |
|
Retail sector - outlet share 2024 (industry estimate) |
|
|---|---|
|
Multiples |
52.4% |
|
Discounters |
27.5% |
|
Convenience |
6.8% |
|
Internet |
10.3% |
|
Other |
3% |
Egg types
|
Egg type breakdown |
|
|---|---|
|
Total Market (Defra) 2024 |
|
|
Laying cage |
21% |
|
Free Range |
72% (inc estimated 4% organic) |
|
Barn |
7% |
|
Retail Sector (Kantar) 2024 |
|
|
Laying cage |
21% |
|
Free Range |
74% (inc estimated 2% organic) |
|
Barn |
5% |
|
UK laying flock - industry estimate |
|
|---|---|
|
2024 |
43m |
Egg consumption in the UK
- Since 2004, egg consumption in the UK has grown by 1.6bn eggs (industry estimates). Egg sales saw huge growth during the Covid pandemic as more people worked from home and enjoyed a cooked breakfast. Also helping to drive growth was brunch.
- Free range sales have also risen sharply and now represent almost 75% of retail egg sales, which is more than double their level in 2004 (32%) (Kantar Worldpanel 2023 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 64% (DEFRA Egg Stats Notice - https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/egg-statistics).
- Overall per capita consumption has grown from 169 eggs per person per year to 175 eggs per person per year from 2004 to 2023 (industry estimates based on a number of independent data sources, including Kantar, 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 2.1 eggs per person per week, which equates 110 eggs per person per year (a rise of almost 30 eggs) (industry estimates using Kantar Worldpanel and ONS data).
- The majority of eggs are sold through the retail channel, equating to about 61% of total sales, up from 48% in 2004, while foodservice equates for 10% and food manufacturing 20% (Industry data based on industry estimates, Kantar Worldpanel and Government data comparing data from 2004 and 2023).
- Between 2004 and 2023, retail egg sales showed particularly strong growth rising by over 20%, and while all sectors of the population ate more eggs, growth was particularly strong among younger (18-44) consumers (Kantar Worldpanel, annual sales figures).
- The value of retail egg sales is over £1.7bn, which has risen by approximately £600m since 2017. Most of those eggs (65%) are sold through multiple retailers (Kantar Worldpanel)
Download industry data
Download Industry data 2004 - 2024 (DOCX document format)