Harris Teeter clarifies egg limits, as prices spike and customers hunt for bargains
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, with a statement from Harris Teeter.
As the cost of eggs continue to skyrocket in Charlotte and throughout the U.S., one North Carolina grocery store chain is putting limits on its competitively-priced eggs when purchased online.
Harris Teeter is restricting online egg purchases to three cartons at a time, the Matthews-based retailer’s website shows in the Charlotte area. That does not apply to in-store purchases of eggs, however, the company said Friday.
“Due to high demand, some types of products currently have quantity restrictions,” Harris Teeter said in a pop-up box on its website about its eggs. This means you can mix and match sizes, types and brands but only buy three in total.
Harris Teeter did not respond to requests for comment Thursday from The Charlotte Observer.
On Friday, the company emailed a statement to the Observer, clarifying the egg limit: “Online shopping promotions, item limits, etc. are not automatically applicable to the store environment. Harris Teeter will continue to inform customers of in-store quantity limits at-shelf.”
The average price in the U.S. for a dozen large white eggs hit an all-time high last month at $4.25, according to the Consumer Price Index.
The Charlotte Observer checked websites for Harris Teeter competitors Thursday, including Food Lion, Publix, and Walmart. None of the stores indicated they had limits on egg carton purchases.
Egg prices around Charlotte
A dozen large white Harris Teeter brand eggs cost $3.99 online at the Town Center Plaza Harris Teeter, 8600 University City Blvd. That’s nearly $2 less than competitors like Publix, the Florida-based grocers website shows.
Only German discount grocery Lidl’s price, $3.69, beat Harris Teeter’s in the Observer’s online comparison. Lidl has 10 stores in the Charlotte region compared to Harris Teeter’s 60.
The price for a dozen large eggs at other Charlotte grocery stores online Thursday was:
▪ Lidl: $3.69
▪ Harris Teeter: $3.99
▪ Target: $4.49
▪ Food Lion: $4.89
▪ Walmart: $5.16
▪ Aldi: $5.49
▪ Publix: $5.97
Note: Prices at grocery stores vary slightly by location.
Limiting eggs at Harris Teeter
Other egg brands under online purchase restrictions online at Harris Teeter include:
▪ Highland Crest, dozen large white egg for $3.79.
▪ Eggland’s Best, dozen large white eggs for $4.79 or 18-count for $6.99.
▪ Pete and Gerry’s, 18-count large organic free-range eggs for $8.99.
Why prices aren’t egg-cellent
In Charlotte, the average price for a dozen large eggs soared by 184% last year compared to 2021 prices at Charlotte’s top four grocers by market share Walmart, Harris Teeter, Food Lion and Publix. A carton of eggs averaged $1.60 in December 2021 compared to $4.54 last month at those grocers, according to an analysis by The Charlotte Observer.
The reasons behind the price hikes include egg shortages as the bird flu outbreak depletes egg-laying hens throughout the U.S., North Carolina Egg Association Executive Director Lisa Prince previously told the Observer. The organization represents the commercial egg industry.
Other factors include supply chain challenges and increased costs for shipping and packaging, feed, labor and diesel fuel.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Harris Teeter’s egg restrictions also applied to in-store purchases.
This story was originally published January 13, 2023 at 5:50 AM with the headline "Harris Teeter clarifies egg limits, as prices spike and customers hunt for bargains."