How Bird Flu Upended the U.S. Egg Market — and Why Prices Are Finally Beginning to Stabilize

Few grocery items frustrated American consumers over the past two years quite like eggs. Once an inexpensive staple, egg prices surged to historic highs following a prolonged outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu. Today, however, prices appear to be stabilizing. Here’s how the crisis unfolded — and why relief is finally showing up at the checkout line.

The Bird Flu Crisis and Its Impact on Egg Supply

Beginning in 2022, the United States experienced one of the most severe bird flu outbreaks in modern history. The virus spread rapidly through poultry farms, forcing producers to cull millions of birds to prevent further transmission. Egg-laying hens were hit especially hard, leading to a sharp drop in egg production nationwide. By 2024 and into early 2025, the cumulative losses totaled well over one hundred million birds. With fewer hens producing eggs, supply tightened dramatically, and prices soared. At the peak of the crisis, consumers in some regions saw egg prices climb above six dollars per dozen.

Why Egg Prices Stayed High for So Long

Unlike other agricultural products, egg production cannot rebound quickly after a disruption. When laying hens are lost, they must be replaced with young birds known as pullets. These pullets require approximately four to six months to mature before they begin producing eggs. Even after farms were cleared to restock, producers faced additional challenges. Strict biosecurity measures, concerns about reinfection, and the logistical complexity of rebuilding flocks slowed the recovery process. As a result, egg supplies remained tight long after the initial outbreaks subsided.

Laying Hen Inventory Recovery Takes Shape

By mid to late 2025, signs of recovery became more apparent. Producers gradually increased pullet placements, and national laying hen inventories began to grow. While the total number of hens had not yet returned to pre-outbreak levels, the upward trend marked an important turning point. This steady rebuilding of flocks meant more eggs entering the supply chain. Wholesale markets responded first, with prices easing as inventories improved. Retail prices soon followed, signaling that the worst of the supply shock was beginning to fade.

Egg Prices Begin to Stabilize

As laying hen inventories recovered, egg prices moved away from their record highs. By late 2025 and into early 2026, prices at many grocery stores had fallen noticeably compared to peak levels. While costs remain somewhat higher than pre-pandemic norms, the extreme volatility seen during the height of the bird flu crisis has largely subsided. Additional factors also helped stabilize the market. Federal and state efforts to strengthen biosecurity, limited egg imports to supplement domestic supply, and improved disease monitoring all contributed to a more balanced egg market.

What This Means for Consumers

For consumers, the stabilization of egg prices offers a welcome sense of normalcy. Shoppers are less likely to encounter sudden price spikes, and eggs are once again becoming a predictable part of grocery budgets. While prices may not return to the ultra-low levels seen years ago, the recovery of laying hen inventories suggests that the egg market is on firmer footing. Continued vigilance against future outbreaks will be critical, but for now, the outlook is far more stable than it was during the height of the bird flu crisis.

Looking Ahead

The bird flu outbreak served as a reminder of how vulnerable food systems can be to disease disruptions. Thanks to gradual flock rebuilding and improved supply conditions, egg prices are stabilizing — a sign that recovery, while slow, is real. If current trends continue, consumers and producers alike may finally be moving past one of the most turbulent chapters in the modern egg market.

Further Reading & Sources

• USDA – Avian Influenza Updates and Poultry Industry Impact
• USDA Economic Research Service – Egg Prices and Food Inflation Data
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Consumer Price Index (Egg Prices)
• Associated Press – Coverage of the U.S. Bird Flu Outbreak
• USDA Agricultural Marketing Service – Egg Market and Wholesale Reports
• CDC – Avian Influenza Information and Monitorin

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Chipotle Mexican Grill just hit a major growth marker: the company has opened its 4,000th restaurant, and the milestone location is in Manhattan, Kansas—known locally as the “Little Apple.” The Dec. 12, 2025 announcement isn’t just a victory lap. It’s also a snapshot of what Chipotle is prioritizing as it scales: digital convenience, restaurant efficiency, and a steady march toward its long-term footprint goals.

A “Little Apple” opening with a “Big Apple” moment

To commemorate the milestone, Chipotle’s executive leadership team and restaurant leaders rang The Opening Bell® at the New York Stock Exchange at 9:30 a.m. ET—a fitting contrast between Manhattan, Kansas and Manhattan, New York. For a brand that’s built its reputation on “real food” and streamlined operations, the 4,000th opening signals just how far Chipotle has come—and how much bigger it expects to get.

What’s inside Chipotle’s 4,000th restaurant

The Manhattan, Kansas location is designed to showcase two key initiatives: Chipotlane expansion and a new High-Efficiency Equipment Package.

Chipotlane: built for digital ordering

The restaurant includes Chipotle’s signature Chipotlane, a drive-thru pick-up lane that allows guests to retrieve digital orders without leaving their cars. Chipotle has been leaning hard into this format. For full-year 2025, the company expects to open 315 to 345 restaurants, with at least 80% featuring a Chipotlane.

High-Efficiency Equipment Package

The 4,000th restaurant also features Chipotle’s new High-Efficiency Equipment Package, designed to increase throughput, streamline prep, and help teams operate more effectively during peak hours—while maintaining Chipotle’s culinary standards. The package includes:

• Three-Pan Rice Cooker: supports higher cooking volumes and consistent batching
• Dual Sided Plancha: reduces cook time for steak, chicken, and fajita veggies
• High-Capacity Fryer: improves throughput for fresh chips
• Produce Slicer: automates slicing to streamline prep

In plain terms: Chipotle is investing in equipment that helps restaurants move faster without sacrificing quality.

Chipotle’s growth: the numbers behind the milestone

Chipotle says it is now over halfway to its long-term goal of operating 7,000 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. Since CEO Scott Boatwright joined Chipotle in 2017 (then as Chief Restaurant Officer), the company has grown from over 2,300 restaurants to 4,000 locations—a 70% increase in eight years. Looking ahead, Chipotle expects:

• 350 to 370 new restaurant openings in 2026
• Including 10 to 15 international partner-operated locations

What leadership is saying

Chipotle leaders framed the opening as both a growth milestone and a community moment. Stephen Piacentini, Chief Development Officer, said the Manhattan, Kansas restaurant is “a celebration of the guests who have asked us to bring Chipotle to their communities,” adding that the location highlights “more convenient access points, sustainable design features and equipment upgrades.” CEO Scott Boatwright said reaching 4,000 restaurants reflects the strength of Chipotle’s strategic initiatives and its commitment to “Cultivate a Better World,” emphasizing expanded access to responsibly sourced food and new career opportunities for team members.

International expansion: where Chipotle is headed next

Chipotle reports over 100 restaurants outside the U.S., including:

• 75 in Canada
• 28 in Europe
• 11 partner-operated locations in the Middle East

Recent and upcoming international moves include:

• The first Chipotlane outside North America, opened in Kuwait (Bneid Al Gar) through a partnership with Alshaya Group
• A development agreement to open restaurants in Mexico for the first time in 2026 with Alsea
• Planned first openings in South Korea and Singapore in 2026 through a joint venture with SPC Group

The STM Daily News takeaway

Chipotle’s 4,000th restaurant opening in Manhattan, Kansas is a milestone—but it’s also a preview of the company’s playbook for the next phase: more locations, more Chipotlanes, and more operational upgrades aimed at speed and consistency. If Chipotle stays on pace, this “Little Apple” moment may end up being remembered as a midpoint on the way to something even bigger.

Related Links

• Chipotle.com (Official Site)
• Chipotle Investor Relations
• PRNewswire (Source Distribution)

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Source: Chipotle Mexican Grill press release distributed via PRNewswire, Dec. 12, 2025.

Now and Later: The Candy That Taught Us Patience (and Stuck to Our Teeth)

Link: https://stmdailynews.com/now-and-later-candy-history/

Each year on January 31st, National Hot Chocolate Day warms up people across the country by celebrating the timeless cold-weather beverage.

National Hot Chocolate Day

Hot chocolate, also known as hot cocoa or drinking chocolate, is a heated drink consisting of shaved chocolate, melted chocolate or cocoa powder, heated milk or water, and usually a sweetener like whipped cream or marshmallows. Hot chocolate made with melted chocolate is sometimes called drinking chocolate, characterized by less sweetness and a thicker consistency.

The first chocolate drink is believed to have been created by the Maya around 2,500–3,000 years ago, and a cocoa drink was an essential part of Aztec culture by 1400 AD, by which they referred to as xocōlātl.^[2] The drink became popular in Europe after being introduced from Mexico in the New World and has undergone multiple changes since then. Until the 19th century, hot chocolate was used medicinally to treat ailments such as liver and stomach diseases.

Hot chocolate is consumed throughout the world and comes in multiple variations, including the spiced chocolate para mesa of Latin America, the very thick cioccolata calda served in Italy and chocolate a la taza served in Spain, and the thinner hot cocoa consumed in the United States. Prepared hot chocolate can be purchased from a range of establishments, including cafeterias, fast food restaurants, coffeehouses and teahouses. Powdered hot chocolate mixes, which can be added to boiling water or hot milk to make the drink at home, are sold at grocery stores and online. (wikipedia)

Links:

National Day Calendar: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-hot-chocolate-day-january-31/

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_chocolate

Visit our Food and Drink section: https://stmdailynews.com/category/food-and-beverage/