Real eggs see Easter sales surge

A dozen years of growth

Egg sales are booming this Easter with Brits expected to eat a whopping 180 million hen eggs over the long weekend, according to figures released by the British Egg Industry Council.

It is predicted that the UK will eat 45 million eggs a day over the Easter bank holiday. This follows a sustained period of upward sales for eggs, attributed to an increasing recognition of their health benefits amongst consumers and the popularity of enjoying eggs at breakfast and brunch. It is expected that 2018 will be the twelfth consecutive year of growth in UK egg sales.

In the 1980s the egg industry endured falling retail sales, by as much as 8% each year. However, in recent years egg sales have been steadily increasing – in 2017 annual retail sales grew by almost 5%.

UK consumers eat an average of 197 eggs per person per year (including in prepared foods, home cooked and eating out). The British Egg Industry Council is anticipating hitting the 200 eggs per person barrier this year, although that is still less than consumption 30 years ago, which was 209 per person per year.

Andrew Joret, Chairman of the British Egg Industry Council, said “We look forward to a cracking Easter this year - sales are up significantly as the health benefits and new food safety advice,which says everyone can now eat runny eggs as long as they are British Lion, continues to filter through to consumers."

Olympic gymnast Max Whitlock is one of the many high profile fans of eggs, who is helping to increase recognition of their health credentials. Max is eating a high-protein diet as part of his preparation ahead of his participation in the Commonwealth Games, which start after Easter on 4 April in Australia’s Gold Coast.