Egg Shortages Push Waffle House to Implement Surcharge
Due to rising egg prices, Waffle House has announced a temporary surcharge of 50 cents per egg in customer orders.
The decision follows a "dramatic increase in egg prices" caused by an outbreak of bird flu, the company stated on Tuesday.
"While we hope these price fluctuations will be short-lived, we cannot predict how long this shortage will last," the statement read.
The privately-owned chain, known for its low prices, now sells a standard American breakfast with two eggs for $1 more expensive at $8.75 in its Norcross, Georgia headquarters.
According to commodity data firm Expana, U.S. wholesale egg prices reached an all-time high in December, with a dozen eggs selling for $5.57 in the Midwest and $8.85 in California.
Bird flu outbreaks have decimated laying flocks, acting as the primary driver of increased egg prices. USDA data indicates that over 20 million chickens were lost in the U.S. last quarter, marking the highest toll since the outbreak began in 2022.
Waffle House operates 2,100 locations nationwide and serves an estimated 272 million eggs annually.