Cal-Maine, one of largest U.S. egg producers, moves HQ to Ridgeland

RIDGELAND — Cal-Maine Foods, the largest producer and distributor of shell eggs in the United states selling under brands including Egg-Land’s Best and Land O’ Lakes, has moved its headquarters here.

The Madison County Economic Development Authority made the announcement on June 17 that Cal-Maine had moved its headquarters to Ridgeland from Jackson.

The company will share a building with Harper Rains Knight & Company accountants at 1052 Highland Colony Parkway.

MCEDA Executive Director Joseph Deason said that Cal-Maine decided to move to Ridgeland on their own, although MCEDA officials have had meetings with company officials.

“This did not originate with us but we are excited they decided to move their headquarters,” Deason said. “They are a good company with a good brand and we are happy to welcome them to the county and specifically to the city of Ridgeland.”

Cal-Maine CFO Max Bowman declined to comment on the move.

According to the company’s website, Cal-Maine founder Fred Adams started his first chicken farm on leased property in 1958 in Mendenhall.

In 1963, the enterprise expanded to build the world’s largest egg farm in Edwards. 

In 1969 Adams Foods, Incorporated merged with Dairy Fresh Products Company of California and Maine Egg Farms of Lewiston, Maine creating Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., supplying eggs from California to Maine.

Since becoming a public company in 1996, Cal-Maine has continued to grow through the acquisition of other egg farms across the country and has maintained its position as the largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs in the United States. In 2014 the Company achieved a milestone by selling over one billion dozen eggs in one year.

Cal-Maine eggs are sold mostly in mid-Atlantic, Midwestern, Southeastern, and Southwestern states accounting for approximately a quarter of US egg consumption.