The following tables outline various facts and figures about egg production, consumption, market breakdown and other industry data.
These figures were updated on 6 March 2020 and are for year ending 31 December 2019 (unless otherwise stated). Due to anomolies in the import/export data, which we are investigating with DEFRA and HMRC, these statistics will remain provisional estimates until further notice
|
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
|
Retail egg market 2019 (industry estimate) |
|
|---|---|
|
Sales value |
£1,066m (+2%) |
|
Sales volume |
7.5bn (+4%) |
|
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) 2019 |
|
|
Laying cage |
32% |
|
Free Range |
67% (inc estimated 2% organic) |
|
Barn |
1% |
|
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 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%). Overall production of free range eggs, which will also include eggs for foodservice and food manufacturing has also mpore than doubled from 27% to 56%.
Overall per capita consumption has grown from 171 eggs per person per year to 1997eggs per person per year from 2004 to 2019. 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). 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%.
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
Download industry data
Download Industry data 2004 - 2018.