MONROE, N.H. — Pete and Gerry's Organics, LLC, producer of Certified Humane, Free Range egg brands Pete and Gerry's Organic and Nellie's Free Range, today announces record growth as well as several recent retail partnerships, cementing nationwide distribution and making a better egg more widely available for all. Growing consumer demand for humane hen treatment has propelled Pete and Gerry's Organic eggs to become the fastest growing brand in the organic egg category and moved Nellie's to the #1 and fastest growing free range egg brand in the country*. In fact, the company's sales have grown over 30% per year for the last decade, and its brands are all growing over 60% per year for the past three years.
In stark contrast to the conventional egg industry, which supplies more than 90% of America's eggs and relies on massive facilities housing millions of hens confined to cages without access to the outdoors, Pete and Gerry's Organics supports a network of more than 120 small family farms to supply its eggs and has stayed true to its commitment to source eggs from only humanely treated, free range hens.
"Over the past 20 years, we've flown in the face of conventional egg production wisdom and grown our business by partnering with independent, small family farmers," said Jesse Laflamme, CEO and owner. "It's the road less travelled, and in spite of challenges along the way, it's what has made us so successful today. More importantly, we've proven that there is a viable alternative to the cruel factory farms that are now so prevalent in our industry. Many of the farms we work with simply wouldn't be able to survive and their way of humane farming would be wiped out by big agriculture, so we are thrilled to see the growing consumer and retailer awareness and demand for a better egg."
In the past 12 months, Pete and Gerry's Organics has grown distribution of both brands by nearly 100% with new and expanded distribution with retailers including Ahold, Delhaize, Publix, Kroger (coming soon), Walmart, SuperValu, Albertson's, Safeway, and Jewel. The two brands are also proud to announce national distribution in all U.S. Military Commissaries providing a free range, certified humane egg options to more than two million service men and women, families, and retirees.
"This expanded distribution is really about being one step closer to accomplishing our larger goal, which is changing the way America eats," continued Laflamme. "We want all consumers to enjoy better eggs, but the reality is that the vast majority of consumers are still eating eggs that come from hens who are crammed into cages no larger than microwaves. Even cage-free, while a step in the right direction, is not what consumers think it is – those hens are still confined to a life indoors, in cage-like systems that don't allow for the natural behaviors the hens need to be happy and healthy. Simply put, the more eggs we can get on grocery store shelves means less space for those factory farm eggs."
About Pete and Gerry's Organics LLC
The Pete and Gerry's Organics LLC family has been raising chickens for three generations and is totally committed to bringing consumers the highest-quality, freshest eggs possible. Pete and Gerry's Organics LLC is a values-led company dedicated to humane treatment of animals and supporting small family farms who follow the strictest standards of humane animal treatment, safety, and environmental sustainability. In 2003 the company became the first Certified Humane egg producer in the US. In 2013 Pete and Gerry's became the first egg producer in the world to achieve Certified B-Corporation status. Pete and Gerry's Organics LLC believes hens deserve a safe, comfortable place to live a happy, healthy life – and that family farmers deserve the right to keep their lands and livelihoods without having to resort to unhealthy factory-farm practices.
To learn more about Pete and Gerry's Organic eggs, visit www.peteandgerrys.com. To learn more about Nellie's Free Range eggs, visit www.nelliesfreerange.com.
*Source: IRI Syndicated Data, Total US Multi-Outlet Latest 13 Weeks Ending 5.15.2016
Source: Pete and Gerry’s Organics, LLC
