Waffle House adds egg surcharge amid rising egg prices

Waffle House has announced a new surcharge of 50 cents per egg in response to rising egg prices caused by a nationwide shortage. The popular breakfast chain, based in metro Atlanta with approximately 2,100 locations, says the surcharge will remain in place until egg prices stabilize.

According to Waffle House's statement, they plan to continue to use "quality, fresh-cracked, Grade A Large eggs" in their customers' favorite meals as long as they are available. They also said that although they hope these price fluctuations will be short-lived, they cannot predict how long the egg shortage will last. In the meantime, they will continuously monitor egg prices and will adjust or remove the surcharge as market conditions allow. 

What we know:

Egg prices have surged due to an ongoing bird flu outbreak, which has significantly impacted egg-laying hen populations. 

Since January 2022, around 148 million birds, including 75 million egg-laying hens, have been euthanized as a result of avian flu, according to InvestigateMidwest.org

The USDA reports that roughly 17 million hens were lost in November and December 2024 alone.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price for a dozen large, Grade A eggs—the type used by Waffle House—rose from $3.65 in November to $4.15 in December.

What they're saying:

The Waffle House customers FOX 5 Atlanta reporter Christopher King spoke with on Tuesday seemed to be okay with surcharge.

"I would understand why they need to, because eggs are pretty expensive," said Tiffany Small.

Emory University marketing professor Saloni Firasta-Vastani said a few cents here and a few cents there will eventually add up if the bird flu outbreak lasts too long.

"You could see them incorporating that price into their regular prices overall," Firasta-Vastani explained. "It's going to hurt their bottom line, and they're passing it along to the consumer."

A Waffle House sign in Florida. (Photo by John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Local perspective:

Waffle House isn’t the only restaurant adjusting prices. Uptown Cafe in Johns Creek also implemented a 50-cent surcharge on all egg orders last week, citing the same supply issues.

There have also been reports of grocery stores placing limits on the amount of eggs that can be purchased by customers. 

What's next:

The surcharge will be lifted once egg prices return to more typical levels, but no timeline has been provided. The Department of Agriculture is predicting that egg prices will increase about 20% in 2025, compared with about 2.2% for overall food prices. 

Customers are advised to expect similar price adjustments at other establishments as the industry navigates the ongoing egg shortage.

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