Herbruck's Poultry Ranch

What Herbruck's Poultry Ranch does

Herbruck's Poultry Ranch is a fourth-generation, family-owned egg production company headquartered in Saranac, Michigan. Founded in 1958 by Harry and Marilyn Herbruck with 6,000 laying hens, the company operates a fully integrated poultry business spanning breeding, pullet raising, feed milling, laying, processing, breaking, distribution, and organic fertilizer production. It now runs nine facilities across Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, houses more than 10 million laying hens, produces approximately 7 million eggs per day (about 2.5 billion annually), supplies over 60% of the eggs consumed in Michigan, and is the largest egg producer in Michigan and the 10th largest in the United States. Ownership is 100% family-controlled with no institutional capital; growth has been funded entirely through reinvested earnings, including the $100 million Blue Springs Egg Farm (2022, Pennsylvania) and the $20+ million Kendallville processing plant (2026, Indiana).

The product portfolio spans conventional, cage-free, organic, free-range, and pasture-raised shell eggs marketed under multiple sub-brands—Green Meadow Organics, Eggland's Best (as a major Midwest franchisee), Born Free, and the newer Love Your Eggs consumer-education initiative—plus private-label eggs for national retailers, liquid eggs for food service through an in-line breaking facility rated at 288,000 eggs per hour, and OMRI-listed organic fertilizer (Nature's Supreme, Green Meadow Organic Fertilizer). Operations are differentiated by proprietary technology including ultrasonic egg-quality inspection, computerized HACCP monitoring with out-of-tolerance alarms, robotic egg packing, automated barcode-based farm-to-shelf traceability, and a litter-to-fertilizer sidestream. The company maintains SQF Level 3 food-safety certification and a stack of welfare and organic credentials (USDA Organic, Certified Humane, American Humane, UEP, OMRI).

Revenue is generated through direct store delivery to retail grocers, food-service supply of shell and liquid eggs, private-label production for national retailers, franchise/licensed production and distribution of Eggland's Best across the Greater Midwest, and sales of branded organic fertilizer. Named enterprise customers include McDonald's (where Herbruck's supported the chain's transition to 100% cage-free U.S. eggs by 2025) and long-tenured "major names" in the food-service industry with over 30 years of supply relationships. Sourcing is supplemented by nearly 100 contract family farms in Michigan and Indiana producing organic and cage-free eggs to Herbruck's standards, and the company purchases grain from hundreds of additional independent family farms for feed. Pricing of eggs is not publicly disclosed; entry-level labor starts at $16/hour with performance-based increases.

Name

Herbruck's Poultry Ranch

Legal name

Herbruck's Poultry Ranch, Inc.

Website

https://herbrucks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Herbruck's Poultry Ranch is a fourth-generation, family-owned egg producer operating nine facilities across Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. The company runs over 10 million laying hens producing about 2.5 billion eggs annually for retail, food service, and private-label customers, including McDonald's.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Egg Production & Poultry Products

NAICS

Poultry and Egg Production (1123), Chicken Egg Production (11231), Other Poultry Production (11239), Poultry Hatcheries (112340)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Poultry Slaughtering And Processing (2015), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)

akta.pro primary industry

Layer Hen Egg Production (Table Eggs) (AFAEADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organic Poultry & Egg Production (AFAEAMAC), Organic & Pasture-Raised Poultry & Egg Production (AFAEADAJ), Breeder Flocks & Fertile Egg Production (Broiler/Layer Breeders) (AFAEADAC), Hatcheries & Chick Production (Day-Old Chicks, Pullets) (AFAEADAD), Poultry Wholesale (Whole Birds, Parts) (AFAIADAC)

Keywords

• Egg production
• Shell eggs
• Liquid eggs
• Organic fertilizer
• Poultry farming

Headquarters

HQ city

Saranac

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Shell Egg Sales: Primary revenue from selling shell eggs including cage-free, organic, free-range, pasture-raised, and conventional varieties under multiple brand names and private label arrangements
2. Food Service Egg Sales: Selling whole liquid eggs to food service industry customers for over 30 years
3. Organic Fertilizer Sales: Selling dried, pelletized poultry fertilizer made from hen litter, available for agricultural and consumer use
4. Private Label Production: Partnering with companies to produce eggs under their brand names and packaging specifications
5. Eggland's Best Franchise: Franchisee and distributor of Eggland's Best eggs, producing all varieties and distributing in multiple states

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Herbruck's Poultry Ranch is a fourth-generation, family-owned fully integrated egg producer operating from breeding through distribution. The company produces premium shell eggs (cage-free, organic, free-range, pasture-raised, and conventional), liquid eggs for food service customers, and organic fertilizer byproducts from hen litter, supplying major retailers, food service outlets, and private-label partners across the United States.

Product overview

Herbruck's Poultry Ranch is a fourth-generation family egg production company operating as a fully integrated poultry operation. The company produces a diverse portfolio of egg products including cage-free white and brown eggs, cage-free organic eggs, classic white and brown eggs, free-range, and pasture-raised varieties (both conventional and organic). The product portfolio spans multiple sub-brands: Green Meadow Organics (organic eggs launched 2008), Eggland's Best (as a major franchisee), Born Free (humanely raised eggs), Nature's Supreme (fertilizer), and Love Your Eggs (consumer education initiative). Beyond shell eggs, the company offers liquid egg products through an in-line breaking facility, private-label production for retailers, and food service supply. The company also produces organic fertilizer from hen litter under the Nature's Supreme and Green Meadow Organic brands. Recent expansions include the Blue Springs Egg Farm in Pennsylvania (2022) and the Kendallville Plant in Indiana (2026).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Green Meadow Organics: Premium organic eggs launched in 2008. Hens are allowed to flutter, flock and exhibit natural behaviors with no antibiotics or growth hormones. 100% vegetarian, by-product free feed. Cage Free, Free Range and Pasture Raised housing. Certified USDA Organic and Certified Humane.
• Eggland's Best
• Born Free
• Nature's Supreme
• Herbruck's
• Love Your Eggs

Products and services

• Green Meadow Organics Eggs Premium organic egg brand launched in 2008 producing cage-free, free-range, and pasture-raised organic eggs from hens fed 100% vegetarian, by-product free feed with no antibiotics or growth hormones. Certified USDA Organic and Certified Humane. Targeted at retail consumers through national retailers and grocery chains.
• Eggland's Best Eggs Premium egg brand distributed by Herbruck's as a major franchisee throughout the Greater Midwest, offering cage-free, classic, and organic varieties. Distributed to retail grocery and food service customers.
• Born Free Eggs Egg brand produced by Herbruck's from humanely raised hens including Free-Range, Free-Range Organic, Pasture-Raised, and Pasture-Raised Organic varieties. Sold to retail and food service customers.
• Cage-Free White Eggs Cage-free eggs from hens fed 100% all-vegetarian feed with 25% less saturated fat than ordinary eggs, available in large size (50g). Available for private label and branded retail supply.
• Cage-Free Brown Eggs Cage-free eggs from brown-feathered hens with 25% less saturated fat than ordinary eggs, available in medium, large, and extra-large sizes. Available for private label and branded retail supply.
• Cage-Free Organic Eggs USDA Organic certified eggs from cage-free hens fed certified organic, all-vegetarian feed, available in large, extra-large, and jumbo sizes. Available for private label and branded retail supply.
• Classic White Eggs Standard white eggs available in large, extra-large, and jumbo sizes for private label and branded retail distribution.
• Classic Brown Eggs Standard brown eggs available in large and extra-large sizes for private label and branded retail distribution.
• Free-Range Eggs Eggs from hens with access to outdoor ranging areas, produced under the Born Free brand for retail distribution.
• Free-Range Organic Eggs Organic eggs from free-range hens meeting USDA organic and Certified Humane standards. Available for retail distribution.
• Pasture-Raised Eggs Eggs from hens raised on pasture with access to outdoor foraging, produced under the Born Free brand for retail distribution.
• Pasture-Raised Organic Eggs (Love Your Eggs brand) New product launched November 2025 under the Love Your Eggs brand. Ethically raised organic eggs from pasture-raised hens, targeted at retail consumers.
• Outdoor Cage-Free Eggs New product launched June 2025. Ethically raised eggs from hens with outdoor access, targeted at retail consumers.
• Liquid Egg Products Liquid whole eggs produced through in-line egg breaking facility operating at 288,000 eggs per hour. Filtered and chilled to exacting standards for food service industry customers including restaurants and institutions.
• Private-Label Egg Production Custom private-label egg production service for national retailers under their own branding, including all egg varieties from cage-free to organic.
• Food Service Egg Supply Egg supply service for food service industry customers including restaurants, QSR chains, and institutions, with shell eggs and liquid egg products. Includes supply relationships with major chains such as McDonald's.
• Nature's Supreme Organic Fertilizer All-natural organic fertilizer brand made from nutrient-rich hen litter, OMRI listed, available in granulated form for gardens, flower beds, and lawns in 25# and 40# sizes.
• Green Meadow Organic Fertilizer OMRI-listed organic fertilizer made from certified humane raised hens, available in all-season and spring lawn formulas for plant and vegetable beds in 25# and 40# bags.
• Agricultural Fertilizer All-natural fertilizer for farms from small plots to hundreds of acres, available in pellets and crumbles in heat-treated and non-heat-treated varieties.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10+ million laying hens producing 7 million eggs daily
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Eggland's BestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1992Herbruck's became a franchisee and distributor of Eggland's Best in 1992, eventually producing all varieties of Eggland's Best eggs and distributing them in four states. As a major Eggland's Best franchiser throughout the Greater Midwest, they deliver premium cage-free and classic eggs to retailers.
• Small Family Farms (Michigan and Indiana)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHerbruck's partners with nearly 100 small farms throughout Michigan and Indiana that produce organic and cage-free eggs to Herbruck's strict standards. The company also supports hundreds of independent family farms by purchasing their grain as feed—both organic and conventional.
• Consumers EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability-focused partnership centered on Consumers Energy's Renewable Energy Program, Energy Concierge Service, and Demand Response Program. The partnership has dramatically reduced on-site energy usage through a 2-megawatt solar array installation.
• Freedom BuildersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFreedom Builders, based in Middlebury, Indiana, served as the general contractor for the $20+ million Kendallville egg processing plant project.
• HealthBarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthBar, a Grand Rapids-based healthcare provider, was selected as the new provider for Herbruck's on-site Employee Wellness Clinic, expanding clinic services for employees and their families in Indiana and Pennsylvania through telehealth.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Eggland's Best: National premium egg brand franchisor that licenses franchisees (including Herbruck's, a major franchisee since 1992) to produce and distribute Eggland's Best eggs. Comparable as a key brand partner in Herbruck's portfolio and as a competitor in branded shell egg retail.

Direct peers

• Vital Farms: Public company (NASDAQ: VITL) specializing in pasture-raised eggs, supplying retail and food service customers nationwide. Comparable to Herbruck's Born Free and Green Meadow Organics pasture-raised product lines and premium positioning, though Vital Farms focuses exclusively on pasture-raised.
• Cal-Maine Foods: The largest egg producer in the United States, producing shell eggs across conventional, cage-free, organic, and specialty varieties. Comparable to Herbruck's as a fully integrated egg producer with national distribution, though significantly larger in scale.
• Rose Acre Farms: Second-largest egg producer in the U.S. and a privately held, family-owned company operating multiple facilities across multiple states. Directly comparable to Herbruck's in scale, ownership structure (private family), product mix, and integrated operations.
• Daybreak Foods: Privately held egg producer operating facilities across multiple states with conventional, cage-free, and organic egg production. Comparable in scale, product portfolio breadth, and private ownership structure to Herbruck's.
• Michael Foods: Producer of egg products (liquid, frozen, dried) and shell eggs serving food service and retail customers, owned by Post Holdings. Comparable to Herbruck's in-line egg breaking facility, food service liquid egg business, and processing capabilities.
• Pete & Gerry's: Producer of organic and pasture-raised shell eggs distributed nationally under Pete & Gerry's and Vital Farms co-packing relationships. Comparable to Herbruck's premium organic and free-range offerings, with a similar family-owned heritage and contract farm network model.
• Henningsen Foods: Manufacturer of egg products (dried, liquid, frozen) and shell eggs for food service and ingredient customers. Comparable to Herbruck's food service egg products business and breaking facility operations.
• Oakdell Egg Farms: Regional egg producer in the Western U.S. producing conventional, cage-free, and organic eggs. Comparable to Herbruck's as a regional shell egg producer with private ownership and retail/food service distribution.

Regional players

• Wilcox Farms: Family-owned Pacific Northwest egg producer with cage-free, organic, and free-range egg lines. Comparable in family ownership, organic and cage-free product mix, and private label capabilities, though operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/herbrucks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/herbruck's-poultry-ranch
• Instagraminstagram.com/herbruckspoultryranch

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Herbruck's Poultry Ranch