Who Would Pay 36,000 Won for One Breakfast... US Cafes Scream Over Egg Price Surge

Egg Prices Soar Due to Avian Influenza
Coffee and Juice Hit Record Highs Amid Climate Change
"Breakfast Restaurants Are More Vulnerable to Price Increases"

On the 13th, a bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich is being made at Pepper Pod Restaurant in Newport, Kentucky. Photo by AP

The prices of key breakfast ingredients such as eggs, coffee, and orange juice have surged sharply, causing serious financial difficulties for breakfast-specialized restaurants across the United States.

On the 14th (local time), the British newspaper The Guardian reported that 'Green Eggs Cafe,' a breakfast chain operating in the Philadelphia area, has faced financial troubles at six of its locations after suppliers recently raised the price of a dozen eggs to $8 (about 11,500 KRW). The chain relies on eggs for 90% of its menu.

Steven Slaughter, co-CEO of Green Eggs Cafe, stated, "A year ago, the cost of ingredients to make bacon, eggs, toast, and a cup of coffee was $3 to $4, but now that cost has doubled," adding, "Our margins are seriously shrinking." Slaughter expressed concern, saying, "We are doing our best not to raise prices, but no one wants to pay $25 (about 36,000 KRW) for a breakfast meal."

This is a reference photo to aid understanding of the article and is unrelated to the main text. Pixabay

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, egg prices have nearly doubled since December last year. This is due to inflation occurring across the U.S. and the culling of tens of millions of poultry caused by avian influenza outbreaks. The price surpassed the previous record high of $4.82 in January 2023, which was also driven by avian influenza. The U.S. Department of Labor explained that the January egg price increase was the highest monthly rise since July 2015 and accounted for two-thirds of the increase in household food prices that month.

This has led to an "eggflation" phenomenon?a portmanteau of egg and inflation?prompting some breakfast restaurants to raise prices or impose additional charges. Waffle House, a chain specializing in waffles with over 2,000 locations, recently began charging an extra $0.50 (about 700 KRW) per egg in response to rising egg prices.

Not only eggs but also the prices of coffee and orange juice ingredients are soaring. Coffee prices have reached their highest in 47 years due to climate issues in major coffee-producing countries Brazil and Vietnam. Orange juice prices have doubled since 2020 due to abnormal weather and citrus greening disease. These factors are further increasing the cost burden on breakfast-specialized restaurants.

Experts analyze that breakfast restaurants are more vulnerable to price increases compared to restaurants serving dinner menus because breakfast menus typically rely on selling large quantities of inexpensive ingredients to make a profit. The Guardian reported that local businesses are responding to shrinking margins by implementing strategies to secure more "loyal customers."

Meanwhile, as egg prices skyrocket, large-scale "egg theft" incidents have been occurring across the U.S. According to The Washington Post, on the 1st (local time), 100,000 eggs disappeared at once from a grocery company's transport trailer in Pennsylvania. The stolen eggs are valued at about $40,000 (approximately 58 million KRW). Pennsylvania police stated, "This is the first theft of eggs on this scale." On the 5th, a restaurant in Seattle also reported the theft of 540 eggs.