2022 Memorable Moments
President's Blog
President, Burnbrae Farms
4th Generation Farmer
2022 has been a rewarding but challenging year for Burnbrae Farms, as it has been for so many families and businesses again this year. I’m extremely proud of how hard everyone at Burnbrae Farms continues to work to support our customers and to help keep eggs moving across our great country.
If you’ve been grocery shopping lately, you’ve likely noticed an increase in prices all around the store. Due to a combination of factors from the pandemic, including issues with food production, transportation, packaging and supply chain, your average grocery bill has likely grown. The dilemma facing many of us is how to ensure that meals remain accessible, affordable and enjoyable. One solution is to enjoy eggs more often as part of breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. As a source of protein with more than 16 essential vitamins and minerals, eggs are a cost effective way to add nutrition and enjoyment to the plate. One egg contains six grams of protein and comes with a price tag of just 0.42 cents (on average). That’s a LOT of nutrition for a small price tag.
Giving back has also always been part of our values and culture as a family and as a business. This year, in collaboration with Egg Farmers of Canada, we donated over 123,000 lbs of eggs and egg products to Second Harvest and many more to food banks and other organizations in need across the Country. We also continue to support several charities including World Vision Canada, Parkinson’s Superwalk, The Canadian Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Children’s Breakfast Club, Toonies for Tummies, Easter Seals and many charitable organizations and worthy initiatives in our local communities.
It is also particularly rewarding when our efforts are recognized. 2022 was a noteworthy year for us on the award front and we are very humbled yet proud of the recognition we’ve received. I thought that I would kick off 2023 with an overview of those accolades.
I had the incredible honour of being chosen as one of this year’s recipients of the Retail Council of Canada’s 2022 Canadian Grand Prix Lifetime Achievement Award . This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service and commitment to the Canadian grocery industry. For more than 130 years, along with my family and the Burnbrae Farms team, I have always focused on giving back to communities, sustainability, and proudly working to provide Canadians with safe, accessible, and nutritious eggs.
At the end of April, we were honoured to be named a recipient of the Top 10 in Grocery Award for EGG Bites! , in the Best Instant Food category at the Grocery & Specialty Food West 2022 show. Egg Bites! are the perfect ‘poppable’ anytime snack, packed with protein and ready in seconds. Available in Pizza Deluxe, Tex Mex and our newest flavour, 5 Cheese.
In July, we celebrated our first annual Burnbrae Farms Employee Appreciation Day. Thank you once again to all Burnbrae Farms employees across the country for the enthusiasm and commitment you bring to work each and every day. Thank you for doing your bit, and for supporting each other, your communities, and Canadian families. I look forward to continuing this celebration for years to come.
In August, I was honoured to be named Brockville & District Chamber Of Commerce's 2022 Business Person of the Year . This award recognizes the outstanding achievements of individuals who make a difference in the local community. It was such an honour receiving such a prestigous award from my hometown. Receiving recognition like this isn’t possible without the hard work and support of my family and Burnbrae Farms colleagues.
Additionally, we are honoured to be named one of this year’s Canadian Grocer Magazine 2022 Impact Award winners in the Community Service category . Here at Burnbrae Farms, giving back to communities is one of our core values and a foundation of our culture. From collecting food during our annual food drive to cleaning up shorelines, our employees help to bring the true meaning of community spirit to life.
In September, I was named one of the 2022 recipients of the Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP) Award of Distinction , which recognizes individuals for their impact on the organization and the food, health and consumer products sector.
The good news kept coming in October when Burnbrae Farms won 2 awards from Gordon Food Service: The GFS 2022 VIP (Vendor Involvement Process) Frontline Award and the GFS 2022 Diverse Supplier of the Year Award . Burnbrae Farms is extremely proud and honoured to be a recipient of these significant awards. Gordon Food Service (GFS) has been a long-time customer/partner of Burnbrae Farms. GFS supplies restaurants, universities, health care facilities, hotels, and other customers with quality products for more than 120 years.
Speaking of diversity, we are extremely proud that Burnbrae Farms has been certified as a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) . Canadian businesses that are at least 51 per cent owned and managed by women are eligible to be WBE Canada certified. Generations of the Hudson family have been inspired by influential matriarchal women who were well educated, community minded, and strong role models. The 4th generation of the Hudson family is proud to carry on their legacy and are honoured to be accredited by WBE Canada .
Furthermore, Burnbrae Farms is very proud to be selected as the #1 Most Trusted Egg Brand in Canada for the 4 th year in a row. The BrandSpark Most Trusted Award (BMTA) offers insight into which companies Canadian consumers trust the most across 222 categories. The awards were created to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions, encourage excellence, and help brands identify themselves as leaders in their respective categories. Over 15,000 Canadian shoppers voted for the BrandSpark Most Trusted Award Winners for 2023 . We are so proud to have received this prestigious recognition from BrandSpark on behalf of our loyal consumers.
Lastly, we are extremely proud to have released our first ever public sustainability report this past April. Here at Burnbrae Farms, we’re working together for a sustainable future. Our company is committed to doing its part in protecting and investing in the planet. One of the ways we plan to do that is by achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Our commitment is and will always be, to continue to provide Canadians with nutritious, accessible eggs for years to come. Read our Sustainability Report and learn more about our Sustainability efforts today and in the future.
I’d like to sign off by saying that we are so grateful to the various organizations and companies that have honoured us with these awards. We are also immensely proud of our teams across the country that work tirelessly to support the values that are so important to each of us.
Margaret Hudson
President & CEO, Burnbrae Farms