Egg major Cal-Maine Foods has strategically acquired U.S. peer Creighton Brothers for approximately $128.5 million. This move marks a significant expansion in the food and beverage industry, enhancing Cal-Maine’s position in the egg market.
Founded in 1925, Creighton Brothers produces, grades, and packs both “conventional and specialty” shell eggs for retail and foodservice sectors. Their longstanding reputation adds value to Cal-Maine’s portfolio as consumer trends increasingly favor specialty food products.
In a statement Cal-Maine, based in Mississippi, confirmed that the acquisition also encompasses Crystal Lake. This company specializes in ready-to-use egg products for the out-of-home channel and food manufacturers, providing items such as liquid, frozen, and hard-cooked eggs.
Both Creighton Brothers and Crystal Lake operate out of Warsaw, Indiana, an area where Cal-Maine previously had no shell egg operations. The acquired assets include production and grading capabilities supporting around 3.2 million laying hens, 500,000 of which are cage-free. The deal also includes 865,000 pullets, a feed mill, 1,007 acres of land, and a processing facility dedicated to egg products and hard-cooked eggs.
Cal-Maine’s President and CEO, Sherman Miller, emphasized the strategic nature of this acquisition, stating, “The acquisition of Creighton Brothers and Crystal Lake advances our strategy by expanding the scale and geographic reach of our shell egg platform, across both specialty eggs and conventional eggs, adding meaningful growth to our portfolio.” This aligns with current food and drink business dynamics, which demand both variety and reliability.
Miller further noted that with the additional liquid egg capacity, Cal-Maine enhances its internal sourcing strategy for essential egg-based ingredients used in its prepared foods, thereby improving supply security, profit margins, and operational efficiency.
Cal-Maine plans a seamless integration of Creighton Brothers and Crystal Lake into its existing operations, including retaining all 177 employees. This acquisition follows Cal-Maine’s recent purchase of breakfast-foods company Echo Lake Foods for about $258 million in April, which illustrates their commitment to diversifying their offerings in line with evolving food and drink consumer trends.
Furthermore, in July 2024, Cal-Maine acquired nearly all assets of local competitor ISE America and affiliated entities for around $110 million, showcasing their aggressive growth strategy. Last year, the company established the position of chief strategy officer to capitalize on new growth opportunities, appointing Keira Lombardo to lead these efforts.
As the food and beverage industry continues to evolve, Cal-Maine’s acquisitions reflect a proactive approach to meet emerging consumer demands while ensuring sustainable growth.
