There are no eggs in Woolworths (and other Australian supermarkets) due to a major avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak in 2024-2025 that culled millions of hens, combined with increased demand and the time it takes to rebuild flocks, leading to reduced egg supply despite efforts by retailers to manage the shortage. Supermarkets, relying on large suppliers, are hit hardest, but the situation is slowly improving as farms repopulate, say ABC News, ANZ, and SBS Australia.
The bird flu outbreak centred around egg farms in south-west Victoria who were major suppliers to the supermarkets. "The outbreak reduced the number of laying hens in Australia, which unfortunately will take a while longer to rebuild," a Woolworths spokesperson said.
There are a few factors behind the shortage and price hike of eggs, but the main one is the bird flu.
Because the demand has been much higher. As part of the panic buying before lockdown people were stockpiling eggs. This led to empty shelves which caused a massive surge on people ordering eggs on line. Hence suppliers could not keep up with the unforeseen level of demand.
Have you tried to buy eggs recently? You might have noticed the significant price hike if you are lucky enough to find some. This critical shortage is partially caused by rising fuel and bird food costs, but the primary driver is the worst bird flu outbreak the world has ever seen.
That's when they are telling you that their start up cost to build the Coop and all items associated are $3,000 and it gets put to the first egg.
Behind the empty shelves in Woolworths supermarkets across Victoria and New South Wales is a fraught battle between workers and employers that could affect the future of workplaces everywhere. The dispute has been triggered by stalled enterprise bargaining negotiations between Woolworths and the United Workers Union.
Why are egg prices soaring? Behind rising egg prices and shortages is a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), known as H5N1, that killed 13.2 million commercial egg-laying hens in the month of December alone and continues to depopulate flocks into 2025, according to the USDA.
Eventually an unhatched egg may be buried or trampled into the nest or even partially consumed by adults or fed to a hatched nestling. The parents may move pieces of shell out of the nest cup.
🐔🍳 Since the avian flu outbreaks last year, eggs have become more expensive and harder to find on supermarket shelves. Turns out it's not over yet, and egg farmers are now facing a hen shortage that could push prices even higher.
You're born with 1–2 million potential eggs (in the form of ovarian follicles), but that's all the eggs you'll ever have. Up to 1,000 eggs are lost each month.
See the list of 11 egg substitutes below to find the right one for the recipe you're whipping up.
The egg shortage across New Zealand was triggered by the government ban on battery-farmed hens that was implemented on 1st January 2023. Although chicken farmers across the country have been adapting to the impending rule changes over the last decade, other factors mean that they are unable to meet current demand.
Avian Influenza Outbreaks Devastated Flock Numbers
The most immediate and severe driver of recent egg shortages has been highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Since early 2022, the U.S. has lost over 58 million birds, including tens of millions of egg-laying hens.
100% of the fresh poultry and eggs used in our Australian products are produced from farms regionally across Australia. Our suppliers are all trained in relevant sector-specific requirements e.g., RSPCA Approved or FREPA as well as meeting Woolworths' Supplier Excellence Programme standards.
With fewer egg-producing hens, the volume of production is down. And this squeeze on supply is pushing up demand and making eggs more expensive. The last quarter of 2024 saw prices go up 11.2 percent, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Why eggs have disappeared from some grocery stores' shelves. Because of this, commercial egg producers have had to cull, which means slaughter, significant numbers of infected chickens, which has decreased overall egg supply. The decrease in egg supply has also led to a steep increase in the price of eggs.
Fresh Produce & Agriculture – Higher Costs and Limited Fresh Produce. Imports at risk: Avocados, tomatoes, bell peppers, berries, beef, pork, dairy. Meat and dairy imports from Canada are also at risk, driving up costs. Supply chain risk: Price volatility and shortages in fresh produce, beef, and dairy products.
The "3-3-3 Rule" for groceries is a simple meal planning method that focuses on selecting 3 protein sources, 3 carbohydrate options, and 3 fat sources, along with plenty of fruits, veggies, herbs, and spices, to create diverse, balanced meals without feeling overwhelmed, helping to build healthy eating habits and prevent food waste by focusing on versatile core ingredients.
Under pressure to repair its reputation after being accused of profiteering during the cost-of-living crisis, Woolworths' profit margins shrank as it absorbed rising supplier prices instead of passing them on to customers, who traded down to cheaper home brands and promotions.
In many cases, it's due to inadequate forecasting and accurate reporting. In other words, the store didn't order enough inventory because they didn't anticipate the demand. And when customers come in looking for specific items and can't find them, they're likely to leave empty-handed (and maybe even angry).
Why are eggs so expensive? Egg prices have repeatedly hit record highs because of H5N1, a highly transmissible and fatal strain of avian influenza, or bird flu, that has devastated flocks of egg-laying hens. Outbreaks started in early 2022 and quickly grew into the largest bird flu outbreak in U.S. history.
Two eggs a day provide about 12-14 grams of high-quality protein, which is a great start but usually not enough for your entire daily requirement, especially if you're active; most adults need significantly more (around 46g for women, 56g for men), so you'll need to add other protein sources like meat, dairy, beans, or tofu to meet your goals, says the TODAY Show.