Walmart has successfully maintained its egg supply during a nationwide shortage caused by avian flu outbreaks, while competitors implement strict purchasing limits and consumers face skyrocketing prices.
This is some real American ingenuity.
At a Glance
- A nationwide egg shortage has caused most retailers to impose purchasing limits, but Walmart has largely kept shelves stocked without national restrictions
- Egg prices have nearly doubled in a year, from $2.52 in February 2024 to $4.95 in January 2025
- Trader Joe’s has implemented the strictest limit of just one dozen eggs per customer per day
- The shortage is severely impacting restaurants, with Waffle House adding a 50-cent surcharge per egg
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed the Biden administration’s policies for the shortage
Walmart Sidesteps Industry-Wide Egg Rationing
As avian influenza decimates poultry flocks across America, major grocery chains and retailers have implemented strict egg purchasing limits. Trader Joe’s now allows customers to purchase just one dozen eggs daily, while Wegmans caps purchases at 10 cartons of dozen or 18-count eggs. Aldi, BJ’s, Costco, and Target have similarly restricted egg sales to two or three cartons per visit, with variations depending on location.
But there’s one American retailer who has managed to stay on top of their supply without a problem.
Walmart has maintained a steady egg supply without imposing national purchase limits in stores. The retail giant has only restricted online purchases of 60-count cartons to six per customer. This supply chain success comes as competitors struggle to keep shelves stocked amid viral videos showing shoppers stockpiling eggs.
Egg prices in the United States have reached record highs, with the national average hitting $4.95 per dozen in January 2025. This surge is primarily due to a severe avian influenza outbreak that has led to the culling of approximately 158 million birds since 2022, significantly…
— iamtcab.shib🍥🍀 (@iAmTCAB) February 16, 2025
Walmart’s Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey highlighted the company’s strategic advantage during the shortage, stating, “It’s really important to provide surety of supply for our customers so that they can come and get the items that they want.”
“We’ve been fortunate to be able to do that, thus far.”
Fortunate indeed!
When Walmart has imposed limits, the company explained they were necessary “to help ensure more customers can have access to eggs.” However, these restrictions appear to be less severe and more selective than those of competitors. Walmart’s massive buying power and sophisticated logistics network have apparently provided a buffer against the worst impacts of the shortage.
The avian flu outbreak has resulted in the culling of millions of chickens, dramatically reducing supply and driving prices upward. The U.S. Agriculture Department forecasts a 20% increase in egg prices this year. Consumer data shows egg prices have already nearly doubled, rising from $2.52 in February 2024 to $4.95 in January 2025. Recent checks found a dozen large Grade AA eggs priced at $5.49 at Wegmans and $5.46 at Walmart.
The shortage has created significant challenges for restaurants and other food service businesses. Waffle House has added a 50-cent surcharge per egg, while smaller eateries like Ursula in New York report dramatic increases in wholesale egg costs. Many food establishments are reconsidering their menu options and pricing strategies as they grapple with unprecedented input cost increases.
While Democrats try to blame Trump for the shortage, which is evidently being managed well by the free market, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has blamed the Biden administration’s policies for the shortage, citing the culling of over 100 million chickens.
Those pesky facts just keep getting in the Democrats’ way…
