Sunny Queen
Egg distributor
50% owned by Ellerslie Free Range Farms, which has been majority owned by Canadian pension fund PSP Investments since 2024.

Overall

Owned CAN
Rating F
About the Ratings

Company Ownership

Sunny Queen Pty Ltd
AUS
Ellerslie Free Range Farms Pty Ltd
owns 50% of Sunny Queen Pty Ltd
AUS
Egg producers
Owns the Yallamundi Farm organic eggs brand, and 50% of Sunny Queen, one of Australia's largest egg processors and distributors. In 2024 Canadian pension fund PSP Investments bought a 60% stake for $180 million, with the founding Hall family retaining the remaining 40%.
Public Sector Pension Investment Board
owns 60% of Ellerslie Free Range Farms Pty Ltd
CAN
Pension fund
One of Canada's largest pension investment managers. They invest funds for the pension plans of the Public Service, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Reserve Force. PSP Investments has a diversified portfolio of long-term Australian agricultural investments.

Company Assessment

(Last updated Dec 2024)
Sunny Queen Pty Ltd
Praise
3/5 for packaging performance
This company received a packaging performance level of 3 (Advanced) in its 2024 APCO Annual Report. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice).
Source: APCO (2024)
Criticism
High free range stocking densities
In contrast to consumer expectations and free range eggs standards across the world, the government caved to pressure from a few industrial scale egg producers and major retailers to introduce a free range eggs standard in 2017 allowing producers to pack 10,000 hens into a hectare. The CSIRO, RSPCA, Choice and many others recommend a maximum of 1,500 hens per hectare. This company uses a stocking density of 10,000 hens per hectare for some of its free range eggs, well in excess of consumer expectations.
Factory Farming
This company produces cage eggs, where each bird is allocated space less than the size of a piece of A4 paper. Birds are unable to turn around easily, stretch out, flap their wings or exercise. Cages do not satisfy the hen's behavioural need to perch, dust bathe, forage, and lay their eggs in a secluded nest.
Information
Organic products
This company manufactures or distributes products that are certified organic under the Australian Certified Organic label.
Source: ACO (2022)
Farm Transparency Project profile
The Farm Transparency Project Repository is a public repository/gallery for videos, photos, documents and campaign materials relating to the animal rights movement in Australia. Follow the link to see their profile on this company.
Ellerslie Free Range Farms Pty Ltd
Information
Farm Transparency Project profile
The Farm Transparency Project Repository is a public repository/gallery for videos, photos, documents and campaign materials relating to the animal rights movement in Australia. Follow the link to see their profile on this company.
Public Sector Pension Investment Board
Criticism
3/20 in Social Benchmark
The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2022 and received a score of 3/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
9.5% in Financial System Benchmark
The 2022 Financial System Benchmark ranks 400 financial institutions across three measurement areas: governance and strategy, respecting planetary boundaries (environment, climate and biodiversity) and adhering to societal conventions (human rights). This company ranked #219/400, with a total score of 9.5/100.
Information
UN Principles for Responsible Investment signatory
UNPRI is a set of six principles direct institutional investors may adopt to consider environmental, social and corporate governance issues when investing. UNPRI is a voluntary agreement.
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Company Details

Founded:
1930
Revenue:
270 million AUD (2017)
Employees:
150 (2019)

Contact Details

Address:
104 Mica St, Carole Park, QLD, 4300, Australia
Phone:
07 3907 9999
Website:
www.sunnyqueen.com.au

Products / Brands

Sunny Queen
Simply Eggs Eggs
Sunny Queen Eggs
Sunny Queen Free Range Eggs
★ meets Model Code of 1500 hens per hectare