Egg consumption in tourist areas can be considerable, especially in destinations like southern Gran Canaria. Hotels, restaurants, and cafes often use eggs in large quantities to prepare breakfasts, main dishes, and baked goods. Furthermore, egg products, such as liquid or processed eggs, are highly sought after for their convenience and compliance with health standards.
Egg consumption in the Canary Islands is even significantly different from the Spanish national average. With an average of 135 eggs per person per year, equivalent to approximately 2,7 eggs per week, Canarians are below the national average of 151 eggs per person (3 eggs per week).
In terms of production, the Canary Islands had 1,3 million laying hens distributed across 167 farms, producing nearly 38 million dozen eggs.
Analyzing the provinces, Las Palmas had a census of 696 hens, with the municipality of Moya standing out as one of the main producers with 246.000 birds. Meanwhile, in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the census was 692 hens, with Granadilla de Abona being one of the largest producers with 115 hens.
These data reflect both egg consumption and production in the archipelago, highlighting the importance of poultry farming to the local economy.
Egg production in the Canary Islands is an essential part of the regional livestock sector and is receiving attention from the Canary Islands government to improve its profitability. The aid the EU is pushing for is a 12,5% increase in payments per dozen, which would mean producers would receive eight cents of official aid per dozen. This proposal, which is still being evaluated by the European Commission, is part of a broader aid program that allocates €243,96 million annually in compensation to the Canary Islands agricultural and livestock sector.
These grants not only cover egg production, but also other subsectors such as rabbit farming, fattening calves, the dairy industry, and cheese factories, thus boosting the entire rural economy of the archipelago.
Huevos Guillén is a leading company in the Canary Islands poultry industry. At its Las Rosas farm, they have 30.000 hens that produce 2.000 dozen free-range eggs per day, making a significant contribution to the local market. Together with two other facilities in the group, they cover 40% of the demand for eggs in the archipelago, reflecting their importance in the regional food supply.
In 2023, the company produced a total of 7,2 million dozen eggs in the archipelago, generating revenues of over €21 million. Its infrastructure includes five farms and a workforce of 81 employees. Furthermore, to meet the increasing demand for free-range and free-range eggs, they are seeking ways to expand their facilities, demonstrating a strategic vision geared toward sustainable growth.
Looking ahead, Huevos Guillén plans to invest €5,5 million in expansion projects and in converting to cage-free alternative systems. This commitment to innovation and animal welfare not only responds to new consumer trends but also positions the company as a leader in the poultry sector, committed to sustainability and the modernization of its processes.
