Egg producer will build in Topeka
April 2, 2016
Egg producer will build in Topeka
TOPEKA — Herbrucks Poultry Ranch said Friday it plans to build a new facility in Topeka at the corner of West Lake Street and S.R. 5.
Herbruck’s specializes in high-protein egg production, packaging and distribution. The company said its proposed 20,000-square-foot facility in Topeka will include a feed mill for company-owned hens as well as a depot building to house flock services such as moving equipment and vaccinating birds.
A news release said the project is expected to create 20 jobs and be fully staffed and operating in early 2017.
The company made the announcement with the town of Topeka and the LaGrange County Economic Development Corp. Representatives of all three will break ground for the project in a ceremony Monday at 11 a.m.
“We are excited to break ground on this important project in the town of Topeka. Town officials have welcomed us with open arms and proven that they are open for business,” said Greg Herbruck, vice president of Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch.
“The logistics advantage, high-quality workforce, ease to do business, and proximity to customers made this decision very easy for us,” Herbruck added. “Our relationship with the town of Topeka and LaGrange County will play a role in future expansion projects for our company as well.”
“Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch is a true leader in the poultry industry, and their decision to construct a facility in Topeka and bring 20 quality jobs speaks volumes about our workforce, business climate and ability to cut through the perceived ‘red tape’ to make a great project come to fruition,” said Ryne Krock, president and CEO of the LaGrange County Economic Development Corp. “The ability of Topeka officials to attract development projects through their site acquisition and preparation activities proves, once again, to be a winning strategy.”
According to its website, Herbruck’s is based in Saranac, Michigan, and was founded in 1958. It operations involve 6 million laying hens.
The website says Herbruck’s is one of the nation’s largest organic egg producers, with 1.2 million organic laying hens, and plans to increase that number to 1.7 million this year.
Herbruck’s said organic eggs are the fastest-growing segment of its business. It distributes organic and cage-free eggs nationwide under the Green Meadow Organics brand and in the Midwest under the Eggland’s Best name.