It’s a classic consolidation play and evolution of US legal theory with respect to anti-trust. 50% of US hens are owned by the top 5 companies, and 20% are owned by the largest company.
We also have consolidation of grocers and elimination of wholesale distribution, so the thousand cuts add up. You see it when you compare a grocery like Aldi that does cost plus pricing to a chain like Hannaford or Albertsons that does more fuckery with segmentation and pricing. In January, my local Hannaford was charging $9/doz for eggs, while Aldi ranged from $4-6.
Beef and dairy have more market dynamics, although dairy is slowly but surely getting strangled and regional dairy is dying out.
We also have consolidation of grocers and elimination of wholesale distribution, so the thousand cuts add up. You see it when you compare a grocery like Aldi that does cost plus pricing to a chain like Hannaford or Albertsons that does more fuckery with segmentation and pricing. In January, my local Hannaford was charging $9/doz for eggs, while Aldi ranged from $4-6.
Beef and dairy have more market dynamics, although dairy is slowly but surely getting strangled and regional dairy is dying out.