Cracker Barrel won’t scramble prices on eggs despite spike caused by bird flu

ATLANTA – Egg prices are soaring, but Cracker Barrel is standing firm. As the bird flu outbreak causes costs to rise, the popular comfort-food chain says it will not be passing that expense onto customers. Instead, it’s keeping breakfast budgets intact and even offering an incentive for rewards members.

What we know:

Cracker Barrel has made it clear that its prices won’t be cracking under pressure. The chain reassured customers that despite the rising cost of eggs, it remains committed to affordability and hospitality.

“We know our guests already have a lot on their plates, so we’ll just stay focused on serving up plates of delicious food at incredible value, like our Sunrise Pancake Special starting at $7.99,” the company said in a statement. “We’ve got you covered, all-day breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

For a little extra incentive, the company is rewarding loyalty members with double “pegs” on all egg dishes through next Wednesday.

Waffle House adds egg surcharge

The other side:

Not all restaurants are taking the same approach. Just days before Cracker Barrel’s announcement, Georgia-based Waffle House introduced a 50-cent surcharge per egg, citing the need for a targeted price adjustment rather than raising menu prices across the board.

“Consumers and restaurants are being forced to make difficult decisions,” Waffle House said in a statement. “Rather than increasing prices across the menu, this is a temporary targeted surcharge tied to the unprecedented rise in egg prices.”

RELATED: Waffle House adds egg surcharge amid rising egg prices

The breakfast giant isn’t making the change lightly—Waffle House serves about 272 million eggs per year, even more than its legendary waffles.

Impact of the bird flu

By the numbers:

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that egg prices have risen 65% over the past year, with no signs of stabilizing.
• The current bird flu outbreak has killed nearly 170 million birds, including chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, and others.
• The virus has also spread to cattle, with a new strain recently detected in Nevada and Texas.
• Cats, both wild and domestic, raccoons, bears and sea lions have also been impacted. 
• Human infections remain rare but concerning—67 confirmed cases have been reported in the U.S., with one death as of Jan. 25, 2025, according to the CDC.
• Globally, the World Health Organization has reported 950 human cases, with about half of those being fatal.

What’s Next

With egg prices at historic highs, more restaurants may follow Waffle House’s lead by implementing surcharges or adjusting menu prices. Meanwhile, Cracker Barrel is betting that sticking to its values—keeping prices steady and rewarding customers—will pay off in customer loyalty.

The bigger question remains: How long will the bird flu outbreak continue to impact food supply chains, and will consumers see relief at the grocery store and restaurants anytime soon? Until then, egg prices will remain a hot topic at breakfast tables across the country.