Birmingham bakery owner navigates soaring egg prices
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Egg prices are soaring across the country, leaving small business owners scrambling to keep up.
In Birmingham, Kristal Bryant, owner of K&J’s Elegant Pastries, is feeling the pinch. Her bakery goes through more than 1,000 eggs a week, a crucial ingredient in her elaborate, custom cakes.
“We use a ton of eggs,” Bryant said. “When I first started, this case was probably $10, maybe $11. Now it’s $59.”
That case holds 15 dozen eggs, and Bryant typically buys four at a time. But with prices skyrocketing, she’s had to rethink her purchasing strategy.
“I had a friend just tell me he paid $119,” she said.
The nationwide egg shortage is being driven by a combination of factors, including inflation and virus outbreaks affecting poultry farms.
According to the USDA, egg prices have jumped nearly 30% from last year and are expected to rise another 20% in 2025. In Alabama, the average cost for a dozen eggs was $6.12.
To keep costs down, Bryant shops at wholesale clubs instead of relying on traditional distributors. But even that comes with challenges — many retailers have imposed limits on egg purchases, allowing only two cases per customer.
That means multiple trips to multiple stores in different cities—sometimes daily.
“I’m thinking about raising chickens at this point,” Bryant joked.
The rising costs to do business have taken a toll on her business. She recently closed one of her locations, focusing instead on her downtown Birmingham store. Bryant also recognizes that, for many, buying sweets is a luxury.
“We’re trying to keep our prices where they are, but that’s been very difficult,” she said.
To adapt, she’s adjusting her offerings. While her bakery is known for large, extravagant cakes, she’s now promoting smaller options that serve about 15 people.
“You want something smaller, you don’t want a big cake, then we’re pushing this. It can be decorated any kind of way,” she said. “I’m adjusting with the times.”
She’s also marketing single-item purchases and using social media to attract new customers. A recent surge in TikTok exposure has brought people in from all over the state.
“We have been crazy! We’ve been crazy from TikTok. People have been coming from Albertville, Huntsville, Dothan, everywhere. We’re meeting new people every day,” she said.
Despite the financial strain, Bryant remains committed to her business and her community.
“The community has been doing a really good job about letting everyone know we are here,” she said.
With no clear timeline for when egg prices will go back down, Bryant says she’ll continue finding ways to keep her bakery running.
“I want people to still be able to indulge and have something extra,” she said.
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