Egg Sales Boil Up The UK retail egg market is at a record high, following another year of impressive sales. Fears that avian flu would affect the market proved unfounded with a particularly strong last quarter, showing growth of more than 5% in value and 3% in volume year on year. British Lion eggs continue to dominate the market growing 2.4% in volume in the last year and now account for more than 90% of retail egg sales and it is anticipated that the new £3.5 million marketing and TV advertising campaign will reinforce Lion egg's retail dominance even further. Full year figures for 2005 have highlighted a number of contributing factors to the overall 1% volume and 3% value growth in retail egg sales. Particularly important to rising sales has been the continued trend towards more welfare-friendly systems of production namely barn and free range, which have seen increases of 24% and 10% in volume, and 21% and 12% in value, respectively. Andrew Parker, Chairman of the British Egg Industry Council, said: "The egg industry has entered 2006 on a high, following an excellent end to last year. We are confident that our new 'So very British' ads will lead to even more significant growth for a resurgent egg market."         top