TLDR
Australia's consumer watchdog has taken twelve egg producers to the Federal Court, alleging coordinated supply restrictions dating back to at least October 2020. Sunny Queen, which holds roughly one third of the national retail egg market, denies the allegations and will defend the case.
Watchdog files Federal Court action over alleged egg industry cartel
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission filed civil proceedings in the Federal Court on 13 October 2026 against twelve egg producers and suppliers, alleging coordinated efforts to restrict supply across the national retail market.[1] The named respondents include Sunny Queen Pty Ltd, Doug Hall Poultry Pty Ltd, Alpair Pty Ltd trading as McLean Farms, Ellerslie Free Range Farms Pty Ltd and Kinross Farm Pty Ltd.
The ACCC alleges that since at least October 2020 the respondents coordinated on production volumes, culling, distribution and expansion plans to manage perceived oversupply, in breach of the Competition and Consumer Act.[1] The watchdog says the conduct amounts to cartel conduct and concerted practices prohibited under Part IV of that Act.
Among the specific allegations, the ACCC says Sunny Queen, Doug Hall Poultry and McLean Farms purchased a property in Pittsworth, Queensland to prevent rival egg suppliers from acquiring it.[1] A separate allegation concerns a 2020 Egg Supply Agreement under which Kinross Farm Pty Ltd was prohibited from selling eggs to Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, Metcash or Costco.[2]
ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said the regulator viewed the conduct as extremely serious. "Our investigation has uncovered alleged widespread anti-competitive conduct in the egg industry that we allege has impacted the supply of eggs to Australian consumers since at least 2020. This alleged conduct is extremely serious, which is why we have commenced this Federal Court action," Cass-Gottlieb said.[1]
Cass-Gottlieb said fair competition in fresh food markets was central to the case. "Fair competition in the supply of fresh food such as eggs is extremely important. Anti-competitive conduct disadvantages Australian consumers, who can face reduced choice and higher prices, as well as those businesses seeking to compete fairly or who are seeking to enter markets to provide competing supply," she said.[1]
Sunny Queen is the largest egg supplier in Australia, holding approximately one third of the market share for the supply of eggs to retailers nationally.[1] A Sunny Queen spokesperson said the company denies the allegations and intends to defend the proceedings.[3]
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