A new food company named Versova has been formed to manage the combined day-to-day operations of egg producers Centrum Valley Farms and Trillium Farms.
While both Centrum Valley Farms and Trillium Farms will continue to exist independently, sharing management of critical aspects of the business will position the organizations for future strategic growth and an enhanced ability to innovate.
“The food industry overall – and certainly egg production – is evolving to meet changing customer needs. Versova maximizes our ability to be flexible, creative and focused across our farm operations, and that is good news for our families, our team members and our customers,” said Jim Dean, Versova president and CEO. “Our company will continue to be family-run, as it has been for generations, and our commitment to producing safe, high-quality eggs and caring for our flocks remains firm.”
Versova will serve as a holding company, with a new management team overseeing business functions of both Centrum Valley Farms, located in Galt, Iowa, and Trillium Farms, located in Croton, Ohio.
Responsibilties of Versova
Among the responsibilities that will be shared under the Versova banner are marketing, customer relationships, information technology, operations, feed management, human resources and finance. While the full transition will take some time, initial actions toward the single company model are starting in May 2016.
“Versova is the logical next step for our business, because it allows us to leverage the expertise of our team within two separate production operations and realize the efficiencies of a combined company, all under one family-run management structure,” said J.T. Dean, executive vice president.
“Our team has worked tirelessly to build integrity in our operations, position these farms for the future, and ensure that they are operated responsibly,” said Doug Mack, chief operating officer. “Our focus is maintaining the highest standards for the care of our hens, regulatory compliance, and food safety.”
Mack said Dr. George Girgis, veterinarian, will serve as director of animal health for both farm locations, reflecting the companies’ dedication to hen health and well-being.
“For our customers, this is a clear demonstration of our commitment to delivering a consistently high level of service and responsiveness, and it greatly expands our ability to swiftly move on critical business initiatives and to react to market demands,” said Ross Dean, vice president of marketing. “The shared Versova management structure between our two farms – and the opportunities to identify and act on emerging trends in the food business – will benefit customers and lay the groundwork for a unified, strategic approach to growing our business.” He cited the recent announcement from Centrum and Trillium about the farms’ transitions to cage-free housing, including plans for remodels of existing buildings and construction of new barns, to meet changing customer demands.
Versova will be headquartered in Sioux Center, Iowa.
