Egg farmers: Turning to direct sales during lockdowns

Victorian egg producers have pivoted their businesses while restaurants and cafes are closed. But one farmer is worried about the demand when they open up again.

Egg producers in Victoria are leaning on farmers’ markets and direct-to-customer sales as the supply stream to restaurants and cafes dries up.

After seven lockdowns forcing the immediate closure of restaurants and cafes, farmers have had to get creative in finding new customers to move eggs that would normally go to the hospitality sector.

Bolinda farmer Madelaine Scott experienced a huge spike in demand at the beginning of the pandemic, but hadn’t been able to supply to her cafes and restaurants much this year, and was concerned about how her demand would change when lockdown is lifted.

Madelaine Scott is concerned about keeping up with demand when restaurants are able to open back up.

“The problem is going to be because it’s been so long of not supplying them that I’ve had to move those eggs and get new clientele,” she said.

“So I’m concerned I won’t have eggs for them — For me to scale up it’s a nine month wait so I need nine months warning that cafes are going to open up again,” she said.

Ms Scott said the biggest change from Covid had been the introduction of a home delivery service to her customers.

“It’s worked really well — last year I sold about 50 boxes,” she said.

South Gippsland Eggs have also had to pivot their business model since Covid hit, and have been “flat out” adjusting.

“It’s been really tough,” owner Alan Abraham said.

The farm are marketers and distributors of their own products and said the 5km radius had also been impacting sales.