Omelets, cakes, pancakes, and breads are all amazing, not to mention delicious, staples of many restaurants and bakeries. They also call for lots of eggs in their creation. After hearing some claims that a dozen eggs will cost $12 by the fall of this year, restaurant owners, bakers, and food-chain operators may have begun to panic-shop for alternatives, but they shouldn’t panic just yet.
On June 7 2022, The Jesse Hoffman Team, a Maryland-based real estate service, posted on Facebook that the USDA predicted eggs would cost $12 a dozen by Fall. With over 100 shares, this claim made national news and caused unwarranted worry for many people.
Here’s what is happening: According to the US Department of Agriculture, a continual outbreak of highly contagious avian flu has decreased the number of chicken flocks and is increasing egg prices. In April 2022 alone, the cost of eggs has risen by 110.1 percent.
This may sound like a tremendous price increase, but in dollars and cents, according to wthr.com, it amounts to about 55 to 58 cents extra tacked onto the current price of 12 eggs. In May 2022, a dozen eggs cost $2.86. Considering those figures, the new cost of a dozen eggs will likely hover around $3.42 for the rest of the year. While not terrific news, it certainly isn’t close to $12 a dozen.
The good news is that customers are steadily returning to dining outside the home, according to USAToday.com. As more people return to bakeries, restaurants, and other food options, the demand for eggs and products using eggs is predicted to return to pre-COVID numbers.
However, the truth is that, yes, there is going to be an increase in the cost of eggs this fall, which will increase the price of a lot of menu items. Passing the increase to the customer will only go so far. Instead of simply eliminating certain products, some restaurants have explored a unique solution called menu engineering.
In an article published in April this year by cnbc.com, restaurants are approaching their menus like a marketing company would create an ad. Including eye-popping graphics, colorful designs, larger fonts, and other visual techniques that guide the customer towards the foods they want to sell. It’s a non-aggressive way to maintain current prices without being obvious. These visual aids, plus a slimming down of menus to the most popular items have also helped some restaurants improve their bottom line.
The increase in eggs, and honestly, food in general, may seem bleak. There is no predicted end thus far, but going out to eat is still holds value for many people. In a time when fun has become just a bit harder to come by, dining out with friends or family, having a few laughs, and enjoying some favorite foods is a pretty great way to blow off steam and relax. According to Nation’s Restaurant News, restaurants are “busier than ever.”