While the egg industry has recently made some changes for the better, it's business as usual for Better Eggs, which has always focused on being… well, Better. So, who is Better Eggs, and what role have they played in disrupting the egg-shelf status quo by ensuring that the chicken and the consumer always come first?
Chances are, consumers had the option of Better without even knowing it. Almost 90 years ago, one of Better Eggs' founding companies began the quest for the Better Egg. These eggs appeared on the shelves of supermarkets, dairies, and fruit and vegetable shops, were used by the dozens in bakeries and cafés, and gracing breakfast, lunch and dinner tables.
They weren't called Better Eggs back then. They were just eggs, but from happier hens and farms that put in an effort to think further than just 'today'. In fact, one of Better Eggs' founding companies was the first egg production business to become SPCA Certified®. Being Better is in its DNA.
The concept of Better Eggs was hatched in 2020. For the first time, Better Eggs became a brand in its own right. This gave curious consumers the opportunity to not only make sure they were getting Better but to support Better too.
Better at being Better
Better Eggs give a cluck. The hens' welfare, the quality of the eggs, and the environmental and social impact of production are all factors that are considered every day. Their people are important and treated with the same family spirit that laid their foundations many decades ago.
Trends, proven advice, and research from overseas producers have all played a role in the direction that Better Eggs has taken in their production.
"Our purpose is to provide nourishment for better living," said Better Eggs Chief Eggs-ecutive Officer Gareth van der Heyden, "every day, we try to find ways to be better. It is always front of mind."
"We are continually improving what we do to be champions for better."
Happy Hens, Better Eggs
Henergy was the first brand in New Zealand to join SPCA’s animal welfare certification programme for eggs. Naturally, Better Eggs Free Range is also SPCA Certified. And it's easy to see why.
Better Eggs are laid in large, open, atrium-style barns with natural ventilation and loads of natural light. The entire bottom of the shed opens up for the birds to freely access a forest environment with more than one hundred thousand trees, rock formations, sun, sky, shade… and lots and lots of space. And when it so pleases them, the hens return to their warm, dry, comfortable barns to sleep and lay their eggs. In an eggshell, it's hen heaven.
The Better life doesn't stop there. Aside from opportunities to forage in the natural vegetation, Better Eggs hens are served their own blends of grain, custom-made according to their age and nutritional needs. It's an egg-cellent recipe for success.
As the hen-spiration for all this, Better Eggs hens' health is of the utmost importance. Stringent biosecurity practices include appropriate PPE, washing the wheels of vehicles before they come on the farm and changing footwear between sheds.
Old-School Values, New-Age Technology
Humans are still the most qualified candidates for the job of caring for chickens, but technology plays a big role in taking care of everything else. Shed ventilation, temperature and light control are fully automated. Conveyor belts and robots collect and pack the eggs into trays and pallets, which are then delivered to nearby grading and distribution centres. Each stage of the journey is traceable, ensuring accountability throughout.
Better Futures
Built on a legacy of family spirit, delighting their customers, and four generations of Champions for Better, Better Eggs has always planned ahead to avoid scrambling to fix problems later. Continuing this legacy means putting sustainability measures in place for future generations.
Better Eggs packaging is made from recycled and recyclable materials. Plastic shrink-wrapped trays have made an egg-xit.
Local maise supply reduces their carbon footprint, their passenger fleet is transitioning to hybrid vehicles, and natural light in the sheds reduces electricity consumption. Solar power would be even better, so guess what? They're likely to get cracking with that as well.
For Better Eggs, this labour of love doesn't end at the supermarket shelf. Rather, the legacy continues into the homes and onto the plates of hundreds of thousands of kiwis every day.
Plenty has changed since those early days. What hasn't changed, however, is Better Eggs' commitment to Better quality, sustainability, animal welfare, and futures.
No egg-ception.
