Free range egg producers are calling for a price rise to help cover huge increases in the cost of feed, energy, transport, and labour which have been creeping up over the past 12 months and show no sign of abating.
BFREPA chief executive Robert Gooch said data shows the price paid to free range egg producers remains static or declining. Producers have watched on as other livestock sectors have received price rises to reflect the current situation, he said, and the time has come for egg producers to receive the same support.
“Free range egg producers are always at the bottom of the pile,” said Gooch. “Everyone else in the supply chain secures their margin by passing the rising costs down the chain, so they inevitably get left at the farmer’s door.
“BFREPA has campaigned for fair, robust contracts to be available which allow for movement in the price paid to farmers as input costs, such as feed, increase and decrease.
“These contracts have been adopted by some retailers and packers but there are numerous examples of these contracts being broken now that inflationary pressures are rising.
“This simply isn’t fair and can’t be allowed to continue.”