The owner of Birmingham Bakery navigates towering egg prices – WBRC

Birmingham, but. (WBRC) – Egg prices rise all over the country, leaving Small business owners roll to continueS

In Birmingham Crystal Bryant, the owner of K&J’s elegant sweets, she feels a clip. Her bakery goes through more than 1000 eggs a week, a decisive ingredient in her complex, personalized cakes.

“We use a ton of eggs,” Bryant said. “When I first started, this case was probably $ 10, maybe $ 11. It’s $ 59 now. ”

This case contains 15 dozen eggs, and Bryant usually buys four at a time. But with the prices they jumped, she had to rethink her purchase strategy.

“I had a friend, he just told me he had paid $ 119,” she said.

The national egg shortage is guided by a combination of factors, including inflation and Viral foci affecting home farmsS

According to USDA, egg prices have jumped nearly 30% since last year and are Another 20% is expected to increase in 2025.S In Alabama, the average price for a dozen eggs was $ 6.12.

To reduce costs, Bryant stores at wholesale clubs instead of relying on traditional distributors. But even this comes with challenges – many retailers have imposed restrictions on egg purchases, which allows only two cases per customer.

This means multiple trips to multiple stores in different cities – sometimes every day.

“At that moment, I’m thinking of raising the chickens,” Bryant joked.

Increasing business costs have taken a fee for her business. She recently closed one of her places, focusing instead on her store in downtown Birmingham. Bryant also admits that for many, buying sweet is a luxury.

“We are trying to keep our prices where they are, but it was very difficult,” she said.

To adapt, she adjusts her suggestions. While her bakery is known for large, extravagant cakes, it is already promoting smaller options that serve about 15 people.

“You want something less, you don’t want a big cake, then we press it. It can be decorated in any way, “she said. “I adapted with times.”

It also launches single elements purchases and uses social media to attract new customers. A recent jump in Tiktok’s exposure has brought people from a whole country.

“We were crazy! We were crazy from Tiktok. People come from Albertville, Huntsville, Dotan, everywhere. We meet new people every day, “she said.

Despite the financial tension, Bryant remains devoted to his business and his community.

“The community does a really good job to inform everyone that we are here,” she said.

Without a clear time line about when egg prices will return, Bryant says he will continue to find ways to maintain his bread profit.

“I want people to still be able to indulge and have something extra,” she said.

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