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IFA poultry chair Nigel Sweetnam said that SuperValu is the only supermarket not to pass back a price increase to farmers while Aldi, Lidl, Dunnes Stores and Tesco have.
Sweetnam said the IFA poultry committee is seeking the equivalent price increase to what the other supermarkets have provided, a 3c/egg price increase for the egg packer, resulting in an additional 0.8c/egg being passed back to the farmer.
He said there are a number of egg producers who only supply to packers contracted to SuperValu and therefore, these farmers have seen no relief to combat rising production costs.
The IFA poultry committee chair warned that if SuperValu doesn’t “step up” with a price increase, the committee is considering further protests in the new year.
While it is understood talks between IFA and SuperValu bosses continue, a spokesperson for the supermarket said that it has a “long-standing commitment to Irish farmers and 100% of our own-brand eggs are Irish”.
The spokesperson pointed out that as part of its regular contract negotiations, SuperValu has agreed a number of “substantial” egg price increases in 2022, most recently in October, and that it will be engaging with suppliers again early in 2023.
“We invest significantly in the promotion and sale of Irish eggs through extensive marketing and distribution campaigns.
“Musgrave [SuperValu’s owner] has well-established relationships with egg suppliers, and we are in constant contact with them on price, quality, and delivery,” they said.
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