Waitrose becomes first UK grocer to sell eggs from ‘teenage’ hens

Billed as a way of reducing waste for farmers, Waitrose has become the first UK supermarket to start selling pullet eggs from so-called ‘teenage’ hens.

Pullets, otherwise known as hens that are less than a year old, begin laying eggs at around 16 weeks, but their first eggs are considerably smaller than an ordinary hen’s egg.

Until now, supermarkets have refused to accept pullet eggs, despite the fact they can make up 10 per cent of an egg farmer’s overall stock.

Unable to be sold to supermarkets, most pullet eggs are thrown away, with up to 1.5 million pullet eggs being wasted every year.

Retail Gazette