Egg Shortage Woes: Denny’s and Waffle House Introduce Surcharges as Egg Prices Escalate
The nationwide egg shortage continues to wreak havoc on consumers and restaurants alike. As egg prices soar due to the devastating impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, businesses are grappling with difficult decisions.
Denny’s Implements Market-Specific Egg Surcharge
Denny’s has become the latest restaurant chain to impose an egg surcharge, adding a temporary fee to meals that include eggs. The surcharge is being implemented on a market-by-market and restaurant-by-restaurant basis due to the regional variations in egg shortages. The company declined to provide specific details on which of its over 1,300 locations would be affected.
Denny’s remains committed to offering customers value, maintaining its $2, $4, $6, and $8 value menu. The company is working closely with its procurement team and franchisees to make decisions that balance business needs with value for guests.
Waffle House Institutes 50-Cent Egg Surcharge
Earlier this month, Waffle House implemented an egg surcharge of 50 cents per egg at its roughly 2,100 locations nationwide. The surcharge is temporary and is a direct response to the ongoing egg shortage caused by HPAI.
Waffle House explained that it opted for a targeted surcharge on egg-containing items rather than increasing menu prices across the board. Despite the extra charge, eggs will continue to be available in customers’ favorite menu items.
Cracker Barrel Holds Firm Against Surcharges
In contrast to Denny’s and Waffle House, Cracker Barrel has pledged to refrain from charging extra for eggs. The restaurant and gift store chain believes that charging extra for eggs is not in line with its commitment to country hospitality.
Cracker Barrel emphasizes that its guests are already facing financial pressures and will continue to provide hearty and affordable meals, including its $7.99 Sunrise Pancake Special.
Egg Crisis Impacts Consumers and Businesses
The egg shortage has put consumers and restaurants in a difficult position. Consumers are facing higher egg prices at grocery stores, while restaurants are struggling to maintain profit margins with the rising cost of eggs.
The HPAI outbreak has caused a significant decline in egg production, and the industry is working to rebuild its flocks. However, it will take time to fully recover from the impact of the disease.
Industry Response and Outlook
The egg shortage is expected to continue for several months, presenting challenges for consumers, restaurants, and the egg industry. Restaurants are implementing creative solutions, such as surcharges and menu adjustments, to manage the increased cost of eggs.
The industry is working to combat HPAI through vaccination, biosecurity measures, and surveillance. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing support and guidance to farmers and producers to mitigate the outbreak.
As the situation evolves, consumers and businesses alike will need to adapt to the temporary egg shortage. Restaurants will continue to adjust their operations and pricing strategies, while consumers will need to budget carefully for egg purchases.
