Pete & Gerry’s Organics, LLC, a nationwide brand for humane egg farming, has purchased Farmers Hen House, a humane egg farm based in Kalona, as stated in a news release. The company’s family of brands includes Pete & Gerry’s Organic®, Pete & Gerry’s Pasture-Raised™ and Nellie’s Free Range® eggs.
This deal joins together two leading premium egg companies in the free-range, pasture-raised, and organic segments. Both companies have grown by nearly 50% since 2021 amidst the rising popularity of premium eggs. Farmers Hen House was started in 1997, while Pete & Gerry’s was started in the 1980s in New Hampshire.
The purchase will integrate Farmers Hen House’s network of over 90 partner family farms with Pete & Gerry’s, for a total of nearly 300 family farms ensuring a reliable supply of ethically sourced eggs.
“Farmers Hen House was created nearly three decades ago with a mission to produce premium eggs as a way to keep local family farms competitive in a modern economy,” said Farmers Hen House President and Co-owner Ryan Miller, in the release. “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.”
The release states that the combined resources and infrastructure from the Farmers Hen House purchase will help in continuing to meet growing demand from customers. With the addition of a modern processing facility in Iowa, this combination will support Pete & Gerry’s growth across the Midwest and West. Pete & Gerry’s now operates four packing facilities, significantly increasing its processing capacity and providing greater efficiency in its manufacturing system.
“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,” said Pete & Gerry’s CEO Tom Flocco, in the release. “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. We’re stronger together to advance our mission toward healthy hens, healthy eggs, and a healthy planet.”
Farmers Hen House was advised by Brown Gibbons Lang & Company throughout the transaction, while Giannuzzi Lewendon and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisors to Pete & Gerry’s.
