US egg producer Pete & Gerry’s acquires Farmers Hen House

The two companies specialize in pasture-raised and organic egg products.

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Pete & Gerry’s has purchased Iowa-based egg producer Farmers Hen House.

The purchase includes 90 family farms and a processing facility in Iowa, bringing Pete & Gerry’s new total to nearly 300 farms. Pete & Gerry’s also operates four egg packing facilities.

Pete & Gerry’s said the acquisition will support its growth and expansion across the Midwest and West U.S., and that terms of the transaction will not be disclosed.

According to the producer, both companies have grown by nearly 50% since 2021, and the combined resources and infrastructure will help the industry continue to meet growing demand for specialty eggs.

Pete & Gerry’s brands include Pete & Gerry's Organic, Pete & Gerry’s Pasture-Raised and Nellie's Free-Range eggs.

“Humanely sourced eggs, like our Pasture-Raised, Free-Range, and Organic products, are rapidly gaining popularity due to their quality, consistency and ethical appeal. As the effects of avian influenza continue, this trend is expected to drive a larger share of the egg market toward premium options due to enhanced biosecurity afforded by more distributed farm networks,” stated Pete & Gerry’s CEO Tom Flocco.

Flocco continued, “Joining together with another purpose-driven company like Farmers Hen House, which shares in our mission to protect hen welfare and the American family farm, felt like a natural fit.”

Ryan Miller, Farmers Hen House president and co-owner added, “We’ve grown and scaled the company while keeping with tradition, and we’re proud today to embrace a new era with Pete & Gerry’s to grow the reach of our collective Certified Humane eggs.”

Pete & Gerry’s “almost wild” advertising      

In September 2023, the producer released its advertising campaign titled "(Almost) The Wildest Eggs You Can Get". 

The ads illustrate consumers in dangerous scenarios, such as surrounded by alligators or being chased by an ostrich, to obtain wild eggs. However, Pete & Gerry’s ends each ad by saying its eggs are the wildest that consumers can buy without putting themselves in danger.

At the time of the release, Phyllis Rothschild, Pete & Gerry's chief marketing officer, stated, "As the industry pioneer in better production practices, Pete & Gerry's has the credibility and brand equity to win in Pasture-Raised, and our latest distribution milestone shows that we are well on our way to achieving that goal.”

 

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