UK egg packer Noble Foods has announced a six-pence-per-dozen price increase for all its free-range and organic producers. The increase began on Saturday.

The increase comes from the UK’s largest egg packer despite the challenging financial and retail climate. The six pence per dozen rise includes all Class A eggs (Extra Large, Large, Medium and Small grades) from all free-range and organic producers in the Noble Foods group.

“Our producers are facing turbulent cost pressures, many of which are a knock-on effect from global events," said Graham Atkinson, Agriculture Director at Noble Foods. "But the resulting inflation issue cannot be ignored."

"The support and attention must be with our producers, which is why this price increase is so necessary," he added. "Because we operate long-lasting feed deals across our base, this increase reflects non-feed related inflation elements. I hope it demonstrates our long-term intent to put our producers first."

Noble Foods’ Milling business unit has also seen the impact of these cost pressures, particularly since their production and delivery processes are heavily energy dependent. To add further support to the 6p/dz. increase, the Milling business unit will not pass any of the current inflationary costs onto producers on pre-agreed Noble Foods scheme or feed link arrangements.

“There has also been some relief for our producers given through Government, with the announcement of the energy price cap," Atkinson continued.

“This may provide our producers with six months’ worth of breathing space, but it’s clear we have a responsibility to continue the messages around ‘food self-sufficiency’ and the ‘feeding a nation’ agenda," he said.

BFREPA CEO Robert Gooch said it’s great to see Noble recognise the pressure that producers are under and improve the financial sustainability of their producer base. 

"The combination of the price increase and their bespoke pricing models is helping to stabilise the market to the benefit of the whole supply chain," he said.