Eggs Benedict: how much it costs to make, per serve
Eggs Benedict costs £1.12 a serve in ingredients, from UK pack prices dated 25 October 2026. To reach 68% GP, the UK food benchmark, it needs to sell for at least £4.19 including 20% VAT (£3.49 without).
The brunch-menu staple: two poached eggs and back bacon on a toasted English muffin, under hollandaise sauce. Costed from JJ Foodservice prices read on 25 October 2026.
The lowest price is the one that just reaches 68% GP, the UK food GP benchmark (UKHospitality × Christie & Co, 2022: 65.9–69% food GP across every segment). It covers the ingredients at a normal margin, not staff, rent or energy, and most cafés, pubs and takeaways charge more for simple dishes. Check what places near you charge. GP is worked out on the ex-VAT price.
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Ingredients and cost, one serve
| Ingredient | Pack price | Pack size | Used | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English muffin | £17.49 | 48 each | 1 each | £0.36 |
| Eggs | £3.79 | 30 each | 2 each | £0.25 |
| Back bacon, 2 rashers | £8.99 | 2270 g | 50 g | £0.20 |
| Hollandaise sauce | £4.39 | 1000 ml | 60 ml | £0.26 |
| Salted butter | £29.99 | 5000 g | 5 g | £0.03 |
| Vinegar (for poaching) | £7.99 | 10000 ml | 10 ml | £0.01 |
| Total | £1.12 | |||
Cost per line is pack price × (amount used ÷ pack size), the same sum the tool runs. Change one pack price and every line that uses it moves.
What it really costs: waste and staff time
| Ingredients | £1.12 |
| Waste allowance, 5% (trim, ends, the odd one binned) | £0.06 |
| Staff time: 5 min hands-on per serve at £12.71/hr + 25% on-cost | £1.32 |
| Food, waste and staff per serve | £2.50 |
At the lowest price (£3.49 ex VAT) that is 72% of the price, before rent, energy and everything else. Many UK sites aim to keep food plus staff (prime cost) at or under 60–65% of sales. The staff line counts hands-on prep only, not unattended cooking, and uses the April 2026 National Living Wage; put your own rate, minutes and waste in the calculator's real cost section or the prime cost calculator. Every dish side by side: the UK dish cost index.
Method
- Poach the eggs in simmering water with a splash of vinegar for 3 minutes.
- Grill the bacon and toast and butter the split muffin.
- Warm the hollandaise gently.
- Top each muffin half with bacon and an egg and spoon over the hollandaise.
Where the prices came from
JJ Foodservice collection prices (single-unit price, no multi-buy tiers), read on 25 October 2026. Prices are as listed; JJ does not label VAT on most lines, and most raw food is zero-rated in the UK while alcohol and some ingredients carry standard-rate VAT. Your supplier's price is the one that matters: open the recipe and type it in.
- English muffin: Kara English breakfast muffins (MUF037), 48, £17.49 collection — JJ Foodservice, accessed 2026-10-25
- Eggs: Medium eggs, tray of 30 (EGG024), 30, £3.79 collection — JJ Foodservice, accessed 2026-10-25
- Back bacon: A1 rindless back bacon (BAC002), 2.27 kg, £8.99 collection — JJ Foodservice, accessed 2026-10-25
- Hollandaise sauce: Kerrymaid hollandaise sauce (SAU722), 1 litre, £4.39 collection — JJ Foodservice, accessed 2026-10-25
- Salted butter: Lakeland salted butter, 20 x 250 g (DAI185), 5 kg, £29.99 collection — JJ Foodservice, accessed 2026-10-25
- Vinegar: JJ malt vinegar, 2 x 5 litres (SAU449), 10 litres, £7.99 collection — JJ Foodservice, accessed 2026-10-25
More costed dishes: café and breakfast
- Leek and potato soup — £0.60 a portion
- Cheese omelette — £0.82 a serve
- Scrambled eggs on toast — £0.70 a serve
- Lemon and sugar pancakes — £0.30 a portion