Top 20 US Egg Producers in 2021

Published on May 11, 2021 at 8:32 am by Murtaza Zaidi in Lists, News

In this article, we will take a look at the top 20 US egg producers in 2021. You can skip our detailed analysis of these companies and go to the Top 5 US Egg Producers in 2021.

The egg industry in the U.S. has evolved rapidly over the last few decades. According to a report, the global egg market is expected to grow from $213.13 billion in 2020 to $227.39 billion in 2021. North America accounts for 14% of the global egg market, while Asia Pacific leads with 64% market share. The egg industry got clobbered in 2020 amid the coronavirus crisis, as companies had to shutter their plants and face rising feed costs. Wholesale prices for Grade A large eggs plummeted 60% from early December 2019. However, with massive rollout of vaccines and strong chances of economic rebound in 2021, analysts are hopeful that egg companies will rebound in the coming months.

Some notable companies that consume huge quantities of eggs in the U.S include McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD), Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN), Cal-Maine Foods Inc (NASDAQ: CALM) and The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ: KHC).

Considering the current U.S. egg industry state, annually, about 60 percent of produced eggs are utilized by consumers in the country. Furthermore, the foodservice industry uses about 9 percent of this production. The rest are turned into egg products used mostly by food service operators like McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD) and other food companies like Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) and The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ: KHC). The U.S. egg production was 96.9 billion in 2020, down by 2% from 2019. The U.S. egg industry had 325 million commercial laying hens at the end of 2020, down by 5% from 2019. The daily rate of lay averaged is 81 eggs per 100 layers in 2020. On average, every laying hen produces approximately 296 eggs per year. The improved hen’s productivity is due to better health and the disease prevention, genetics, nutrition, and the flock management every year. The per capita consumption of eggs has improved by 15% in the past 20 years in US. The estimated per capita consumption decrease in 2020 is attributed to decreased production due to COVID-19 related issues. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in far more people eating at home instead of dining out at restaurants. This change caused an increase in demand for eggs and companies like Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POST), Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) and The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ: KHC) are seeing huge profits. The U.S. egg industry successfully petitioned the F.D.A. to exempt some egg farms from a food safety rule to return the price of eggs to their normal levels.

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD) has a close relationship with the U.S. egg industry. McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD) claims to be using 33% cage-free eggs following its cage-free egg commitment to source 100% cage-free eggs by 2025.

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: CALM) is the largest producer and distributor of the shell eggs in the US. In 2020, it sold approximately 1,069 million dozen shell eggs, which represented approximately 19% of domestic shell egg consumption. According to Bloomberg, Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: CALM) buys 2 billion eggs a year in the U.S. or close to 2% of the nation’s annual production.

Photo by Zoe Schaeffer on Unsplash

With this context and industry outlook in mind, let’s start our list of the top 20 U.S. egg producers in 2021.

Top US Egg Producers in 2021

20. Gemperle Family Farms

Innovative egg farmers in US that produce the high quality premium Organic, Omega-3 specialty and Cage-free eggs. The company has 5.3 million hens and a 2% market share in the egg industry. It is one of the top US egg producers in 2021.

19. Sparboe Farms, Inc.

Sparboe Farms, Inc. provides truckloads of eggs to the US egg market. The company also makes generous egg donations to food shelves in several states of US in Minnesota, Iowa and Colorado. The company has 5.5 million hens and a 2% market share in the egg industry. It is one of the top US egg producers in 2021.

18. Mid-States Specialty Eggs

Mid-States Specialty Eggs, L.L.C., own Mid-States Specialty Eggs. It is the certified producer of Free Range, Pasture Raised, Cage-Free, Organic, & non-GMO eggs. With the personalized approach towards flock management, the company has developed specific plans for every farm and their flock to maintain consistency throughout their system. Each of the company’s grading plants are located in Missouri and Arkansas and they are certified with S.Q.F. level 3 illustrating the safe and quality egg production. The company has 5.7 million hens and a 2% market share in the egg industry.

17. Kreider Farms

Kreider Farms is owned by the Noah W. Kreider & Sons, LLP. It is known for its delicious and fresh and eggs, milk, dairy drinks, and batch-turned ice cream products. The customers can find quality products at Kreider Farm’s select wholesalers and retailers. The company has 5.8 million hens and a 2% market share in the egg industry. Kreider Farms is one of the top US egg producers in 2021.

16. Fremont Farms of Iowa L.L.P.

Fremont Farms of Iowa L.L.P. produces and processes liquid egg products. The company engages in the wholesale distribution of poultry and poultry products. The company has 5.99 million hens and a 2% market share in the egg industry.

15. Hickman’s Egg Ranch, Inc.

Hickman’s Egg Ranch, Inc. is the Family Farms and the local go-to favorite for the best farm-fresh eggs available and the largest egg company in the Southwest. The company has 6.3 million hens and a 2% market share in the egg industry. The company is one of the top US egg producers in 2021.

14. Sauder’s Eggs, R.W. Sauder, Inc.

Sauder’s Eggs are owned by R.W. Sauder, Inc. company. Sauder’s Eggs works with more than 104 farmers who have more than six and a half million hens producing eggs for Sauder. Therefore, the company has 6.61 million hens and a 2% market share in the egg industry.

13. Rembrandt Enterprises, Inc.

Rembrandt Enterprises, Inc. is an American company headquartered in Spirit Lake, Iowa. The company is named after its most prominent egg operation in Rembrandt, Iowa, which is one of the world’s largest in-line egg-production facilities. The company has 7 million hens and a 2% market share in the egg industry. Rembrandt Enterprises is one of the top US egg producers in 2021.

12. Opal Foods L.L.C.

Opal Foods L.L.C., owned by Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), provides high-quality, nutritious, affordable eggs. Opal Foods’ farms are based in Missouri, Colorado and Iowa. The company has 8.4 million hens and a 2% market share in the egg industry.

11. Weaver Bros., Inc.

Weaver Bros., Inc. or Weaver Brothers, is a fourth-generation family farm still owned and managed by the founding family. The fourth generation of the family is now working in Versailles, Ohio. The company has 8.5 million hens and a 2% market share in the egg industry.

10. Center Fresh Group

Center Fresh Group, also known as Center Fresh Egg Farm L.L.P. owned by Jim Dean, has more than 45 years of experience in egg farming. It is one of America’s leading shell egg and egg-product producers. Founded by eight Iowa farm families with a rich history in farming and egg, the company has 9.37 million hens and a 3% market share in the egg industry.

Like other suppliers in our list, Center Fresh Group is one of the top US egg producers in 2021, providing eggs to businesses like McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD), Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: CALM), Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POST), Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) and The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ: KHC).

9. Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, Inc.

Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, Inc. is the leading egg production company based in Saranac, Michigan. The company has 9.7 million hens and a 3% market share in the egg industry.

8. Prairie Star Farms L.L.C.

Prairie Star Farms L.L.C. has more than 160 years of collective experience in the U.S. egg industry. The company sells high-quality, protein-rich eggs produced in the Prairie Star Farms. The company has 10.6 million hens and a 3% market share in the egg industry. The company supplies eggs to businesses like McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD), Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: CALM), Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POST), Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) and The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ: KHC).

7. M.P.S. Egg Farms

M.P.S. Egg Farms, owned by Robert Krouse, is one of the largest and most reliable shell egg producers in the United States. The company’s roots date back to 1875 as it is running as a family business. The company has 11.1 million hens and a 3% market share in the egg industry.

6. Michael Foods

Michael Foods is owned by Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POST). Michael Foods is a leading manufacturer, processor and distributor of foodservice, food ingredient and retail offerings, including innovative egg products in the U.S. The company has 13.5 million hens and a 4% market share in the egg industry.

Click to continue reading and see the Top 5 US Egg Producers in 2021.