 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
The business was established in 1935, when founder Douglas Moodie released some two thousand hens
into the fruit orchards on the home farm Eikenhof in the beautiful Elgin valley in an early attempt at
biological pest control. With third-generation Chris Moodie now at the helm, The Free Range Chicken Co
produces Free Range and Organic eggs on farms located in the Western Cape and markets
over fifty million eggs per annum, about a third in the form of Free Range liquid Ready Egg.
IN BRIEF:
1935
in the northwest corner of the beautiful Elgin Valley outside Grabouw in the Western Cape.
mid-1900s
A constant demand from other local egg farmers to acquire
surplus young hens from Eikenhof's
own pullet-rearing farms led to this activity becoming a
significant mainstream business on its own,
and for many years Eikenhof enjoyed the status of being one
of the premier suppliers
of point-of-lay pullets to the egg industry.
1984
Among the first controlled environment pullet-rearing
facilities in South Africa
were erected on Eikenhof Farm.
1986
The farm Sherwood (in the Malmesbury district) was
purchased as a pullet-rearing farm
with the first three chicken houses being
commissioned.
1990
The farm Zanddam (in the Stellenbosch district) was
purchased and became the home of the
egg production division, together with a modern egg
grading, packing and distribution operation.
Eikenhof expanded to become a leading supplier of graded
and packed shell eggs to the Western Cape market.
1995
Commenced with the supply of Free Range eggs to Woolworths.
2004
The Zanddam egg pack station was the first such unit in the
country
to receive the acclaimed HACCP accreditation.
2006
Sherwood sold to Peak Pullets (Pty) Ltd, with Eikenhof
Poultry
remaining the managing shareholder.
2011
Eikenhof commissions state-of-the-art pasteurisation
technology
in a modern facility on Zanddam farm, capable of producing
premium quality liquid egg products (Ready Egg) with an
extended shelf life.
2014
Klipfontein Organics (Pty) Ltd is established to supply
Woolworths with certified Organic white-shelled eggs.
2015
Melsetter Foods (Pty) Ltd is established to produce a range of
fresh Free Range liquid products as well as
value-added fresh chicken, turkey and ostrich products for Woolworths.
Eikenhof Poultry Farms wins the coveted
Woolworths Food Supplier of the year award.