Egg consumption booming

AUSTRALIAN egg farmers responded to fast growing domestic demand with the record breaking production of 6.2 billion eggs in the 2017-18 financial year.

New statistics released by Australian Eggs also show average consumption in Australia has risen to 245 eggs per person per year.

A total of 16.9 million eggs are being produced in Australia every day and that represents a massive increase of 54 per cent from 10 years ago.

Australian Eggs’ Managing Director Rowan McMonnies said more and more Australians are looking for low-cost, high quality protein and eggs are the natural choice.

“Eggs have always been known as the affordable protein but it is the broadening from breakfast fare to anytime meal that is driving the popularity boom,” Mr McMonnies said.

“We are seeing new groups of consumers explore the versatility of eggs on the back of foodie and natural wholefoods trends.

“Each Australian is eating an average of 4.7 eggs per week and they are now more likely to be eaten at lunch, dinner or as snacks.

“Old favourites like boiled eggs and soldiers are still popular but market research shows us people are looking for new ways to reinvent egg dishes and we have the foodie movement to thank for that.”

Consistent with the long term trend of increasing free range demand, the proportion of free range supermarket volume increased to 45 per cent of the category, which for the first time was just above cage at 44 per cent.

“Egg farmers are always responsive to consumer demand and it’s hard to think of a food with a wider product range than eggs,” Mr McMonnies said.