the happy egg co. Eclipses One Million Dozen Free Range Eggs Sold in U.S.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Feb 18, 2014) - Last week, the happy egg co. celebrated a significant milestone eclipsing one-million dozen Free Range eggs sold in the U.S. The company has also released data on its first year of selling Free Range on pasture eggs to consumers throughout the U.S. grocery market.

The happy egg brand has displayed steady growth since its Oct. 2012 launch and continues to expand retail distribution into major chains, partner with accredited family farms, increase bird numbers and create a sustainable platform from which to grow sales -- all while investing in and driving the gold standard in animal welfare and winning over consumers by being voted the 2014 Better Homes and Gardens Best New Product award*. 

In late 2012, the happy egg co. introduced Free Range on pasture eggs at 200 select Ralphs grocery stores in Southern California. Now, the brown eggs from hens with daily access to the outdoors can be found in approximately 1,800 stores spanning the western, central, southern and northeastern regions of the U.S.

The growth in retail distribution is supported by a growing flock size and three times the number of family farms since launch. the happy egg co. is helping to meet the growing demand from consumers to have access to eggs from humanely raised hens.

"the happy egg co. has demonstrated steady growth through support from our retail partners, while developing egg labeling clarity and transparency in the U.S. market," said David Wagstaff, COO of Noble Foods Inc. "The consumer is becoming better educated, but there still remains much confusion around the differences between Cage-Free, Free Range and other egg labels. We are proud that we just eclipsed one million dozen free range eggs from hens that are raised in the most humane way possible." 

Hens at the happy egg co. enjoy the freedom to roam across more than 4 acres of open pasture, and nutritional feed and care from expert family farmers under direction of Andrew Joret, the International Egg Commission's 2013 "International Egg Person of the Year."

"We are continually looking to challenge our own welfare standards to ensure our hens have the best possible welfare and outdoor roaming space," said Wagstaff. "With better treatment of hens comes a better tasting egg, and our consumer agree as the happy egg co. was just named winner of the Best New Egg in the 2014 Better Homes and Gardens Best New Product Award, based on a survey of 80,000 consumers."

Continuing to set the gold standard for happy hens, the happy egg co. has also received a certification from Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) and American Humane Association (AHA) and has received a Certified Humane Raised and Handled^® certification by Certified Humane^®, a third-party animal welfare certification program that covers everything from hens' living conditions to their feed and the expertise of their caregivers.

For more information about the happy egg co. Free Range on pasture eggs, including where to find a store near you, visit thehappyeggco.com. 

*Based on the 2014 BrandSpark/Better Homes and Gardens American Shopper Study of 80,000 voters nationwide. For more information visit www.BestNewProductAwards.com.