Denny’s has announced a temporary surcharge on meals containing eggs, joining Waffle House in adjusting prices due to ongoing supply chain disruptions and rising costs. The decision comes as the national egg shortage, largely driven by a persistent bird flu outbreak, has caused prices to soar.
Egg Shortage Leads to Price Adjustments
In a statement to ABC News, Denny’s explained that the surcharge is necessary to offset increased costs, but emphasized that pricing adjustments will vary by location.
“Some of our restaurant locations will need to temporarily add a surcharge to every meal that includes eggs. This pricing decision is market-by-market and restaurant-by-restaurant due to the regional impacts of the egg shortage,” the company stated.
Denny’s reassured customers that it remains committed to providing affordable meal options despite these challenges. “We do our best to plan ahead with our vendors on items like eggs to minimize the impact market volatility has on our costs and menu pricing,” the statement continued.
Industry-Wide Impact
The ongoing egg shortage has affected multiple restaurant chains. Earlier this month, Waffle House implemented a 50-cent surcharge per egg, citing the same supply constraints. The Georgia-based chain acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the situation, stating, “While we hope these price fluctuations will be short-lived, we cannot predict how long this shortage will last.”
Denny’s, like Waffle House, has pledged to monitor the situation closely and adjust prices accordingly. In the meantime, the restaurant chain continues to offer budget-friendly options, including its $2 $4 $6 $8 value menu, to help customers manage rising food costs.
The Bigger Picture
According to the latest data, the average price of a dozen eggs reached $4.95 in January, nearly double the cost from a year ago, with some consumers paying even higher prices in certain markets. The bird flu outbreak has significantly reduced the egg supply, forcing suppliers and retailers to adjust pricing strategies.
Both Denny’s and Waffle House hope for stabilization in egg prices and supply in the coming months, but for now, customers will have to contend with temporary surcharges as the industry navigates this challenging period.
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