Dec 10, 2008 1:05 PM

Cal-Maine Foods Inc. has reached an agreement to acquire the egg production and marketing assets of Tampa Farm Service Inc., based in Dover FL. Tampa Farm Service has been a major participant in the egg industry in the southeastern United States for more than 50 years.

Assets to be purchased by Cal-Maine include approximately four million laying hens in modern, in-line facilities; pullet-growing facilities; two feed mills; and a fleet of delivery trucks for both eggs and feed. In addition, the company will acquire the 4-Grain brand of specialty eggs, certain flocks of contract laying hens, and Tampa Farm Service’s interest in American Egg Products Inc. The company expects to close the transaction in early December 2008.

Cal-Maine is primarily engaged in the production, grading, packing, and sale of fresh shell eggs. Headquartered in Jackson MS, it is the largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs in the United States and sells most of its shell eggs in about 29 states across the southwestern, southeastern, Mid-western, and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.