Gaston Co. Bakery. relies on the small business owner to keep costs down on eggs

DALLAS, NC (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – High egg prices have been causing a lot of frustration lately.

Instead of walking on eggshells, a Gaston County businesswoman found a way to ease the pain of skyrocketing costs.

Courtney Johnson rises to special occasions in the kitchen Sweet Anna Bakery in Dallas. The wow factor of a great cake is the most enjoyable part of the job.

“I love everyone’s reaction,” said Johnson, whose business grew largely through word of mouth. “And they were just blown away by it.”

Baking is a whole science.

“You have to be precise with your measurements,” Johnson said.

On the other hand, prices fluctuate wildly these days.

“Oil has become more expensive,” she said. “Even just last week, powdered sugar went up 14 cents a bag.”

Don’t even get me started on the price of eggs, which has skyrocketed due to the ongoing bird flu epidemic and the cost of chicken feed.

“A year and a half ago, I think I was paying $2.42 for five dozen in a box of 60. Now it’s up to $25,” said Johnson, who was so shocked that she took a flyer on a new source of eggs.

Raylen Robbins of Dallas is 11 years old.

“Hey, hey, hey!” he shouted as he held the uncooperative chicken during our interview. “Relax, relax.”

“If you can stack me up every week, I’ll get as much as I can out of you,” Johnson said, explaining their arrangement. “And a supplement from the grocery store.”

“Now what do you do with that egg?” he said in the chicken coop, apparently talking to the chickens.

He started Rylen’s eggs about a year ago.

“The first time my dad’s friend and I went to a yard sale, I wanted a chicken, and that’s when we started,” the boys say.

Now he has more than 20 birds. He stamps every egg he sells; the bakery is his biggest customer.

Johnson pays about five dollars for a dozen eggs at the big box store, while Rylen charges three dollars.

“I thought, ‘Oh, this will save me money!’ she said.

This leaves little stock for Rylen’s other customers.

“People get angry while we do everything we can to make money. I make good money doing it, though, Robbins said.

His father urges him to save his earnings.

Rylen also spends her money on Funko Pop! numbers. The entrepreneur dreams of expanding the collection and adding another career as his egg empire grows.

“That would be my two jobs, I could make 50,000 a year as a firefighter and multi-millions (in the egg business),” said the ambitious boy.

Contrary to the decorative sign at Johnson’s Kitchen, it does NOT sell farm-fresh eggs. That’s where Ryan comes in.

“Hey, how are you?” she said to Rylen during the birth. “Thank you very much! How are you doing at school?”

– Okay, – he answered.

Every delivery helps ease the burden of Eggflation.

“I’ll find savings where I can,” Johnson says.

“Rylen is your hero?” I asked.

“Right now, yeah haha!” Johnson said.

Or maybe the child is just the wind under the wings.