RIDGELAND, MISS. – Cal-Maine Foods Inc. announced on March 31 that it approved new capital projects to expand its cage-free egg production capabilities. The company plans to invest an estimated $82 million in these projects with available cash on hand, investments and operating cash flow.
“We are pleased to announce these cage-free expansion projects that will further advance our growth strategy and better serve customers given growing customer and consumer demand and expanding state requirements for cage-free eggs,” said Dolph Baker, chairman and chief executive officer of Cal-Maine. “Cal-Maine Foods is well-positioned as an industry leader in meeting this demand.”
The proposed project includes the two projects at Cal-Maine Foods’ locations:
- Delta, Utah – four new cage-free layer houses and two pullet house conversions with capacity for approximately 810,000 cage-free layer hens. The work is expected to start immediately with project completion expected by fall 2023.
- Guthrie, Kentucky – nine cage-free layer house conversions and two pullet house conversions with capacity for approximately 953,000 cage-free layer hens. The work is expected to begin immediately with expected completion by spring 2025.
Baker added since 2008, including these projects, the company allocated approximately $625 million in facilities, equipment and related operations expanding cage-free production and distribution capabilities. Cal-Maine is expected to finish $123 million in projects in the next three years.
Cal-Maine Foods primarily is engaged in the production, grading, packing and sale of fresh shell eggs, including conventional, cage-free, organic and nutritionally enhanced eggs. The company sells the majority of its shell eggs in states across the southwestern, southeastern, mid-western and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.
