Waffle House is charging its customers an extra US$0.50 per egg in response to the increasingly high shell egg prices being seen across the U.S.
According to signs posted at the chain’s locations, the chain is adding the charge due to the “nationwide rise in cost of eggs,” which is attributed to the ongoing outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) that are affecting the nation’s layer supply. The surcharge went into effect on February 3, 2025.
Waffle House said it is continuously monitoring egg prices and will adjust or remove the surcharge as the market allows.
“The continuing egg shortage caused by HPAI (bird flu) has caused a dramatic increase in egg prices,” Waffle House told media outlet CNN. “Customers and restaurants are being forced to make difficult decisions.”
"While we hope these price fluctuations will be short-lived, we cannot predict how long this shortage will last," Waffle House added.
Waffle House has approximately 2,100 locations, predominately in the Southeastern area of the U.S. Its most ordered item is eggs, serving 272 million per year, easily surpassing the 124 million waffles it sells, according to its website. Additionally, while over a dozen farms supply Waffle House stores with eggs, Rose Acre Farms is the largest and supplies over half of the eggs consumed at its restaurants.
Is it enough to drive away customers?
The surcharge may drive some of Waffle House’s customers off until removed. On a social media platform X post, one user stated: “I will not be going back until this is removed. I can cook a better breakfast at home.” Another said, “Waffle house will be filling for bankruptcy.”
While the surcharge may be enough to keep some customers away for the time being, it’s not enough for me. By the time you drive to the grocery store, buy a dozen eggs for approximately US$6.99, and drive home, you have paid roughly U.S.$0.50 anyway. Also, the eggs are still uncooked.
In other egg-related consumer news:
Free-range egg company Happy Egg put up a billboard making fun of one of its own employees, Senior Category Analyst Brett Oliver. The billboard reads "Brett Oliver is The Golden Loser," and celebrates Brett's victory in the company's Golden Bachelor bracket challenge while joking about his failure in fantasy football.
