2024 Memorable Moments

Margaret Hudson
Présidente et directrice générale des Fermes Burnbrae
4^e génération d'agriculteurs

As I reflect on 2024 and look ahead, I couldn’t be prouder of the incredible dedication shown by everyone at Burnbrae Farms. Their hard work ensures we continue supporting our customers and keep eggs moving across this great country. For over 130 years, my family and the Burnbrae Farms team have been committed to one shared pledge: to nourish Canadians sustainably with nutritious, high quality and affordable eggs. That promise remains as strong as ever.

Giving back has always been at the heart of our values and culture, both as a family and as a business. This year, we proudly donated over 1 million eggs and egg products to charitable organizations across the country, including school breakfast programs, food banks, and food rescue initiatives. Beyond this, we continue to support a range of impactful charities, such as World Vision Canada, Parkinson’s SuperWalk, Swim Drink Fish, Ronald McDonald House Charities, The Children’s Breakfast Club, Toonies for Tummies, and many other meaningful organizations and initiatives in our local communities.

It’s always rewarding when our efforts are recognized, and 2024 was a notable year for us on the awards front. We’re both humbled and proud of the accolades we’ve received, and as we step into 2025, I’d like to take a moment to highlight some of these achievements.

This spring, we were honoured to once again be recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies . Established in 1993, this prestigious program is Canada’s leading business awards initiative, celebrating excellence among Canadian-owned companies.

In addition to this recognition, we were egg-cited to learn that our EGG Bites! crustless quiches and our Naturegg Solar Eggs were named finalists in the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards . The excitement grew even more when our Naturegg Solar Eggs were announced as a Grand Prix Award winner! The celebrations didn’t stop there, though— our Naturegg Omega Plus Solar Free Range eggs were also named a Best New Product in Canada by BrandSpark International! At Burnbrae Farms, we take pride in offering consumers a wide variety of eggs from all different housing systems— ensuring you can choose the option best suited to you and your family. Our Naturegg Solar Eggs, produced using solar energy, come in two varieties: Solar Free Range and Omega Plus Solar Free Range . Look for them in the eggs section of your local grocery store.

In the summer, we celebrated our third annual Burnbrae Farms Employee Appreciation Day on the birthday of Burnbrae’s co-founder, my father, Joe Hudson. Thank you once again to all Burnbrae Farms employees across the country for the enthusiasm and commitment you bring to work 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.

This year, we held our second Burnbrae Farms Foundation Dinner on the Farm. We hosted a wide array of community and corporate colleagues and friends on a beautiful evening under the stars. Thank you to all our sponsors and guests for your incredible support. We couldn’t have done it without the help of key members of the organizing committee, including myself, my-brother-in-law Ian McFall who was key in helping with sponsorship, our Burnbrae colleagues Sonya Fiorini, Amanda McHugh, and Beth Plumstead who made the evening so magical. Also on the committee, my sister-in-law Sherri Fournier-Hudson and my sister Sue Hudson and our Foundation co-chairs Helen Anne Hudson and Mary Jean McFall who also worked along side the team to make our evening a success.

This fall, I had the privilege of attending Canadian Grocer's Star Women in Grocery ceremony, which honours women who have demonstrated exceptional expertise, vision, and leadership in the Canadian grocery industry. It was a moment of pride to celebrate the remarkable achievements of all the award recipients, including my sister, Sue Hudson, Senior Director of Digital Marketing & Communications at Burnbrae Farms. I am beyond proud of Sue for this well-deserved recognition. She joins me (2013 winner) and Sonya Fiorini (2023 winner) as a Burnbrae Star Woman in Grocery, and I couldn’t be more thrilled! Congratulations, Sue!

Speaking of inspiring women, I’m extremely proud that Burnbrae Farms is 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.

On another high note, in October, we were presented with the Avetta Award for Canada’s Safest Manufacturing Employer. This award, presented by Canadian Occupational Safety spotlights our safety culture, programs, commitment, and results. This award is a true testament to the hard work and passion of our outstanding Health & Safety team and employees across the business. We are incredibly proud of this achievement and our entire Burnbrae team for their contribution!

Furthermore, Burnbrae Farms is very proud to be selected once again, for the sixth year in a row, as the #1 Most Trusted Egg Brand in Canada! The BrandSpark Most Trusted Award (BMTA) offers insight into which companies Canadian consumers trust the most across various categories.

Lastly, we are extremely proud to have released our third public sustainability report this past Spring.  We celebrated the occasion with an incredible event at Arcadia Earth in downtown Toronto. We can’t think of a better way to have shared our latest sustainability report than with our valued customers and industry partners. 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. Our commitment is and will always be, to continue to provide Canadians with safe, nutritious, affordable eggs for years to come. Read our Sustainability Report and learn more about our Sustainability efforts today and in the future.

Our journey and commitment to transitioning our hens from conventional housing continues. In 2024, we built one free run barn in Quebec with two more to be completed in 2025 as well as one enriched barn in southwestern Ontario. In Manitoba, we constructed one free run barn this year, now this farm proudly houses 3 free run barns and a free run pullet barn (built in 2023). We, along with all Canadian egg farmers, are on pace to achieve this important goal by 2036 .

Before I sign off, I want to take a moment to share the deeply sad news of the passing of our father, Joe Hudson, co-founder of Burnbrae Farms. Dad passed away peacefully at home on the farm in Lyn, Ontario, on March 14, 2024, at the age of 94. Alongside his brother, Grant, my dad transformed our family farm from a dairy operation into the thriving egg business it is today. A true visionary in the egg industry, he started with a high school project and grew Burnbrae Farms into a national success. The many accolades he received throughout his lifetime from the agricultural community and grocery sector are a testament to the lasting impact he made. In June, I was honoured to accept the Outstanding Contribution Award on his behalf at the Canadian Poultry & Egg Processors (CPEP) annual convention. My dad was a champion of his family, his business, and his community. He will be missed immensely. I am profoundly grateful to my father for his unwavering commitment to his family, community, industry, and Burnbrae Farms.

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 and those that have worked with us to ensure Canadians continue to have access to local, affordable nutritious eggs and egg products. 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