Eggs-aplenty at Eggporium
The local egg trade has been in a shambles since Australia’s avian influenza outbreak, but business has gone through the roof for Eggporium in Queen Victoria Market (QVM).
The notable store, owned by Stan Graczyk and his son Luke, has become Melbourne’s very own guardian angel of eggs as the city suffers from shortages.
Retail store operator at Eggporium Ben Adams said the reason for this is that its stock hadn’t been significantly affected due to the majority of its suppliers not having come into contact with bird flu.
Australia takes a zero-tolerance approach to avian influenza outbreaks, which means the protocol after any reported infection is the euthanasia of all birds on the farm.
According to peak body Australian Eggs, the reported losses represent about seven per cent of the national flock of more than 20 million laying hens.
While Eggporium’s supply hasn’t been impacted as significantly as other stores, it has had to increase its prices by 30 per cent.
“It is actually really brutal because that’s a 30 per cent increase on top of prices that went up by 20 per cent due to inflation,” Mr Adams said.
“What we fear from our end is that the high prices aren’t likely to resolve themselves in a matter of weeks or months. it’s looking like it might take a year or even more,” he said.
Despite the challenges that face the industry at the moment Eggporium is continuing to adapt and remain a staple for customers at QVM.
Not only do they have a wide range of eggs and honey on offer, but they have extended their product range to include Yarra Valley-based “Riccis Bikkies” Turkish bread-based pita crips and Riccis Sauces.
Stan Graczyk also owns and runs Exceptional Foods, which is a local family-run wholesale delivery business based in Ringwood that provides eggs to businesses and grocers throughout Melbourne.
Whether you’re a student on a budget looking for reasonably priced eggs, an independent grocer wanting to stock Victorian laid eggs or an out-of-towner wishing to indulge in some of Melbourne’s best honey, it’s hard to look past Eggporium.