Cal-Maine Foods in Mississippi: History, What It Produces, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
Cal-Maine Foods is headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, and describes itself in company releases as the largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs in the United States. It produces, grades, packs and sells conventional, cage-free, organic and nutritionally enhanced eggs, and has grown by acquiring egg production assets across several states.
| Location | Headquarters in Jackson, Mississippi |
|---|---|
| Sectors | Shell egg production, grading, packing and distribution |
| Product types | Conventional, cage-free, organic and nutritionally enhanced eggs (company release) |
| Scale | Company calls itself the largest US producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs; a 2016 release cited about 1.6 million laying hens of capacity in one acquisition |
| Why it is elite | Sector leader; publicly traded; multi-state acquisitions |
| Ownership | Publicly traded company |
| Official website | Cal-Maine Foods official site |
History of Cal-Maine Foods
Cal-Maine Foods is a Jackson, Mississippi company that built its position through acquisitions as well as organic growth. A 2016 company release announced the closing of an acquisition of Dixie Egg assets in Georgia, Alabama and Florida, adding capacity for about 1.6 million laying hens plus contract grower arrangements for another 1.5 million.
The release also described a licensing franchise for the Egg-Land's Best brand covering parts of Alabama, Florida and Georgia, plus Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and Cuba. Later company news continued the same strategy of buying egg production assets and expanding regional reach, such as the Echo Lake acquisition headline in search results.
What Cal-Maine Foods Grows and Raises
The company is primarily engaged in producing, grading, packing and selling fresh shell eggs. Its product mix includes conventional, cage-free, organic and nutritionally enhanced eggs, so it serves both mainstream grocery and specialty customers.
Most shell egg sales are made in the southwestern, southeastern, mid-western and mid-Atlantic regions, according to the company release. Contract growers supplement company-owned production, giving the business flexibility when demand changes.
How Cal-Maine Foods Makes Money
Shell egg sales
Fresh shell eggs are the core product, sold to retail and food service customers. Because eggs are sold in a commodity-priced market, scale and cost control are central to results.
Specialty eggs
Cage-free, organic and nutritionally enhanced eggs let the company reach buyers who pay for a defined attribute, adding a layer beyond conventional product.
Branding, licensing and acquisitions
The Egg-Land's Best franchise shows how a licensed brand can extend reach. Acquiring production assets lets the company add capacity without building every house from scratch.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from Cal-Maine Foods
Scale and mix work together. A large producer that also offers specialty eggs can follow demand shifts without abandoning its base business. Smaller operators can take a lesson by adding one defined product line, such as pastured or certified eggs.
Use contract grower arrangements to flex capacity. The 2016 release shows the company pairing owned hens with contract growers. Farmers considering poultry contracts should compare terms, house requirements and exit options carefully, and consult state extension and an attorney before signing.
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How to Contact Cal-Maine Foods
Website: https://www.calmainefoods.com/
Company website as referenced in Cal-Maine's own news releases, November 2026. This is a large public company; consumer and investor inquiries should go through the contact pages on its site.
Cal-Maine Foods Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Cal-Maine Foods official site - Company home page
- Cal-Maine acquisition release - Company release describing HQ, products and capacity
- USDA Census of Agriculture - Poultry and egg statistics
- USDA ERS farm income data - State and national farm income series
- Mississippi State University Extension - Poultry production guidance
Cal-Maine Foods FAQ
Where is Cal-Maine Foods based?
Cal-Maine Foods is headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi.
What does Cal-Maine produce?
Fresh shell eggs, including conventional, cage-free, organic and nutritionally enhanced eggs.
Why is it elite?
The company describes itself as the largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs in the US.
How does it grow?
Through production, acquisitions of egg assets and contract grower arrangements, as described in its releases.
Cal-Maine Foods shows how a Mississippi company can scale a commodity business through acquisitions, specialty products and disciplined logistics. Compare it with the row-crop, catfish and forestry operations in the Mississippi farms guide and the other profiled farms.