ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Egg shortages and price increases are hitting restaurants across the United States including chains like Waffle House which is now adding an egg surcharge. But some New Mexico eateries say so far, they’re not looking to pass the cost on to their customers.
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Eggs are in short supply for everyone, but so far Frontier is among the restaurants in Albuquerque riding out the storm, to avoid nickel-and-diming customers. “Well, our prices are a lot higher than we’ve seen in a very long time. We’re currently paying almost $7.30 for a dozen eggs,” said Shannon Rainosek, Owner of Frontier and Golden Pride.
Gone for now are the days of paying two bucks for a dozen, especially for businesses like Frontier that go through over 1,000 dozen eggs weekly, but they don’t plan on changing their menu prices any time soon. “As long as we’re able to get the eggs for our customers and to use in the business, we’ll keep doing that. And we aren’t anticipating raising any prices, we just kind of roll with it. Prices go up, they usually come back down,” continued Rainosek.
Others haven’t been as lucky, Blake’s Lottaburger, is adding a temporary $1 surcharge to anything with eggs. Nationally, the waffle house is adding a 50-cent surcharge.
“I’ve been avoiding eggs eating out, particularly so because I don’t want a surprise bill. You know,” shared John Addams of Albuquerque.
Frontier said it tries to keep prices consistent, considering how many college students they serve, “We price things so that if something goes up, it’s not a problem. And it usually is just a cycle,” added Rainosek.
M’tucci’s head chef is also looking at ways to keep prices consistent, “We’re doing everything we can to not raise prices because that’s not what we’re about. And so we’re just trying to figure out how to be smart and not change recipes and just be as tight as possible and try to get through this without having, like I said, to raise prices, because everyone else is feeling it too,” said Shawn Cronin.
It’s unclear exactly how long the effect from the egg shortage could last, but Frontier told KRQE News 13 that their supplier is hoping the issue will clear up before Easter.