Why are eggs to be missed in some supermarkets?

The egg is popular. So much so that the supermarket stalls are regularly empty. First reason for this offer in red: the habits of the evolving consumers and a demand that has exploded in recent months. During the first quarter of 2025, Purchases of eggs from French households jumped 4.2%, all methods of farming combined, compared to the same period of 2024, According to figures from the National Committee for the Promotion of the Egg (CNPO)the interprofession of the sector.

“We have never sold so much!”Confirms in Franceinfo Thomas Bartlett, secretary general of the National Union of Industrialists and Egg Professionals (SNIPO). On sold, over the nine months of 2025, two million more eggs compared to 2024, which was already a record year “he continues. Last year, the average eggs consumed per capita was 226, an increase of 4.7% compared to 2023, still According to the CNPO.

This significant growth in consumption egg is explained by its character “easy to cook and its qualities recognized nutritional “, argues the secretary general of Snipot. Great athletes or new vegetarians are not the last to opt for this food. But above all, “This is the cheapest animal protein on the market”, he insists.

“Inflation has led households to this cheaper animal protein, and the habit has settled”, ABONS ALICE RICHARD, Director of CNPO, in the columns of Echo. In July 2024, An INSEE study concluded that 12% of French people had to restrict their purchases of meat, fish and other proteins, for lack of means in the face of the prices of recent years. Food precariousness that particularly affects young people. And in this context, the egg came out of its nest.

This trend has accelerated in recent months, according to the sector, causing the supply difficulties noted in certain supermarkets. “There was no drop in production in 2025, it is stable or even slightly increaseMake Thomas Bartlett. Che empty or sparse rays for certain references, it is by no means caused by a fall in production. ”

The problem is not the prerogative of France since “Several European countries” are in the same situation. “We cannot talk about shortage in France today, because our production remains stable”, already explained in May Alice Richard, director of the CNPO, at the microphone of Franceinfo, while recognizing “Tensions”.

The sector attempts somehow to increase its production, but it comes up against constraints that are difficult to around. “Increasing production is very complex already because we talk about animals, but also heavy structures, with large investments necessary, substantial administrative procedures”, lists Thomas Bartlett. According to the general secretary of the Snipo, he It takes at least two years for a chicken coop creation project to successfully. “”In these two years necessary, it is estimated that a year ago spent solely to administrative procedures “Complete Alice Richard.

The transition of farming methods started in recent years, from a cages to breeding to a breeding “Alternative” or “Outdoor, “also slows down the process. In 2018, as part of the Egalim law, the prohibition of any new installation of cages in cages was acted for animal welfare.

The shell professionals, whose sector has announced the creation of 300 chicken coops by 2030Also insist on the objective of continuing to produce eggs in France and not to give in part of the market to foreign competition. “The marketing of eggs from high cages and packaged in Ukraine on the rays of several leading distribution brands”is regularly denounced by the CNPOwho sees the sign D‘”unfair competition”.