Upmarket UK retailer Waitrose & Partners has announced plans to introduce a minimum net weight packaging model for its own-brand, free-range British eggs.
The move will see the inclusion of small, medium and large eggs in a single fixed-weight pack.
A majority of retailers sell medium or large eggs, while smaller eggs that do not meet size regulations are sent to the catering industry.
The initiative will increase the availability of the product and also help British farmers find a market for small eggs at a time when the catering industry is hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
'Pioneering Standards'
Nick Coleman, egg buyer at Waitrose, commented, “We have a history of pioneering standards in the egg industry and we continue to work with our egg supplier Stonegate to find solutions to give greater value to our farmers and customers.
“This new model will boost the availability of our British free-range eggs even further and at a more affordable price, which is good for the industry and good for our customers.”
Initially, the retailer will roll out the new minimum net weight boxes in packs of 12, priced at £2.50 - 20p cheaper than ’medium’ eggs.
The eggs will be packed in a fully compostable ryegrass box, in line with the company's sustainability commitments.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
