Waffle House forced to add egg surcharge amid bird flu and rising prices

America’s largest breakfast chain is asking you to pay egg-stra.Waffle House announced Monday that a 50-cent surcharge will be implemented per egg due to the bird flu.The Georgia-based restaurant chain — which has more than 2,000 locations across 25 states — explained that rather than increasing the price of all menu items, this is a “temporary targeted surcharge” tied to the “unprecedented” rise in egg prices.“The continuing egg shortage caused by HPAI (Bird Flu) has caused a dramatic increase in egg prices,” the statement said.“Consumers and restaurants are being forced to make difficult decisions.”Waffle House noted that as long as they remain “available, quality, fresh-cracked, Grade A Large eggs” will continue to be a key ingredient in many customers’ “favorite meals.”“While we hope these price fluctuations will be short-lived, we cannot predict how long this shortage will last,” the company said.“We are continuously monitoring egg prices and will adjust or remove the surcharge as market conditions allow.”The decision by Waffle House comes amid supply chain issues due to the H5N9 outbreak, which started back in 2022.Egg prices are already hurting wallets, but it’s expected to get worse.

The average price of a dozen Grade A large eggs was $4.15 during December, according to the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics – an increase from $2.51 in December 2023. Patrick Penfield, a professor and supply chain expert at Syracuse University’s School of Management, told Nexstar Media that egg prices could rise by as much as 20% before the year is over.If so, the average price of a dozen large eggs could be nearly $5 by the end of 2025 — which would mark the highest-ever recorded average price for a dozen eggs.Some grocery stores have even started to limit how many customers can buy....