Supermarkets continue to sell caged eggs

“Despite the increased interest in eggs during the Easter period, Billa keeps the commitment,” said store spokeswoman Dana Bratánková to Novinkám. The menu includes chicken and quail eggs and, during the holidays, boiled white and colored eggs.

The online supermarkets Rohlík and Košík do not offer eggs from cage farms, but other large brick-and-mortar chains do.

“The complete cancellation of the sale of caged eggs will take place by the end of 2025 at the latest,” said Lidl spokeswoman Eliška Froschová Stehlíková.

Kaufland and Tesco have the same deadline. The second-named store deals with the transition with suppliers so that it can ideally be done even earlier. It is also a matter of price. For example, Penny stores promised to stop taking caged eggs to events as early as 2023, but now they say that they cannot do without them at a certain price point during Christmas and Easter.

Those who haven’t researched it yet can find out the breed of eggs from the code directly on the egg or on the inside of the package lid. Three indicates cage breeding, two indicates breeding in halls, one indicates free range breeding. Furthermore, on the egg, the consumer will find the code of the country from which the egg comes. The designation CZ means domestic origin.

Whether and when stores will really stop selling cage-raised eggs at an earlier date is not yet certain. It is a voluntary commitment. Change has two sides to the coin. Cage farms are the worst in terms of conditions for laying hens, but the customer buys such eggs the cheapest. Although this is not always the case, sometimes cheaper free-range eggs are offered.

“Domestic poultry breeders will be burdened by an unequal competitive environment in the future, as from 2027 Czech egg producers will not be able to keep laying hens in cages and, unfortunately, such eggs from neighboring countries will be able to be sold in stores,” pointed out Gabriela Dlouhá, president of the Czech-Moravian Poultry Union.

Even though the Czech Republic is constantly calling for a ban on cage farming throughout the European Union, the Minister of Agriculture Marek Výborný (KDU-ČSL) admitted at the turn of the year that a common approach by the Union in this matter is rather out of sight.

Compared to last year’s Easter, the eggs in the events are now significantly cheaper. According to Dlouhá, large chains offer Czech production below the price. “If stores sell eggs for less than 2.90 kroner per piece in promotions, which is currently appearing in promotional flyers, the chains are probably reaching into their margins for marketing reasons. Most breeders are at zero or only in a moderate profit,” she added. However, traders find cheaper eggs from imports, for example from Poland.

Even so, more Czech eggs could be sold this year than in previous years. Domestic poultry farmers are starting to raise breeds of laying hens that lay eggs with a white shell. It is for such eggs that there is the greatest demand during Easter. So far, however, it has mainly come from abroad.

Easter will be cheaper this year, chains are offering special egg prices

Economy