Cracker Barrel fires back as Waffle House adds surcharge to eggs

Cracker Barrel leadership scrambled to make their own breakfast announcement after 24-hour restaurant chain Waffle House announced it would be tacking on a surcharge of 50 cents per egg. “Egg prices are staying put, but we’re doubling your rewards,” the company announced in a Facebook post yesterday. “Starting today through next Wednesday 2/12, all Cracker Barrel Rewards members will earn double pegs [rewards points] on all egg dishes.” Waffle House’s announcement was attributed to soaring egg prices due to shortages caused by an aggressive strain of the avian flu. Company representatives said it is “continuously monitoring egg prices and will adjust or remove the surcharge as market conditions allow.” The average price for a dozen eggs in the U.S. has increased 50% in the past year, NBC News reported. In the week ending Jan. 18, a dozen eggs cost $5.29, compared to a year ago when they were $3.50. The increase is being blamed on bird flu outbreaks that have caused the slaughter of 13 million hens since December. A Cracker Barrel spokesperson told WKRC recently that they were hopeful the fluctuations in price would be “short-lived,” and added that they couldn’t “predict how long this shortage will last.” Another spokesperson said keeping egg prices the same was an extension of their company values in an email to TODAY. “A surcharge on eggs?” the email said. “Well, there’s nothing hospitable about that. At Cracker Barrel, country hospitality is as important to us as a hearty breakfast, and that means not charging extra for eggs.” — news from AL.com