Hay River’s Polar Eggs are back on store shelves in the N.W.T.

After a 2-year absence, locally-produced eggs are back on store shelves in the N.W.T. under the Polar Eggs brand. (Submitted by Matt Vane via RCI)

By Carla Ulrich · CBC News

Local brand currently being sold in 14 stores across territory, with plans to expand further

Some residents across the Northwest Territories can once again add local eggs to their grocery carts.

Produced in Hay River, N.W.T., Polar Eggs are again being sold in stores across the territory.

Polar Eggs have been absent from consumer store shelves for nearly two years. The previous owners sold the business last January to B.C. egg farmers Matt Vane and Jeff Bisschop, who have spent the past year preparing for the relaunch.

“It’s very exciting,” Matt Vane said. “It’s a big accomplishment for us to take on this project a year and a half ago and now to finally see that the eggs are on the shelf.”

Vane said the journey to bring Polar Eggs back to shelves has been a significant undertaking, one they hoped to complete sooner. But Vane said they are committing to ensuring everyone can enjoy local, farm-fresh eggs soon.

“We’ve received pictures and comments from people happy to see the eggs back on the shelves,” he said. “Social media pages and friends in the community have shared their excitement, which is always encouraging.”

As of late May, Polar Eggs were available in 14 stores, and the company had plans to expand further.

“This is the Northwest Territory brand,” Vane said. “It’s important to have that local brand back on the shelves.”

Vane added that the new barn is also nearing completion, with equipment and egg-handling pieces being added now. The next step for the company, Vane said, is exploring opportunities to support community programs.

“We are excited about reaching out to school programs, culinary opportunities, and working with chefs and teachers,” he said. “We want to help out in a charitable sense, whether it’s donating eggs to a cause or supporting school breakfast clubs.”

“There are many ways to not just promote eggs but get them into the community. It’s a community effort, and we want to be a part of it.”

‘Please bring Polar Eggs back to Yellowknife soon’

Yellowknife resident Nicole Whitford was eagerly anticipating the return of Polar Eggs to the capital city’s store shelves.

“I am happy for the pending return of Polar Eggs back on store shelves in the N.W.T., because fresh local eggs are good for the body, environment and the territory,” she said.

Whitford said it’s important for the N.W.T. to have a local egg producer because it gives northerners access to fresh eggs that don’t need to travel from southern distributors.

“You can enjoy them at their peak freshness and reduce food kilometres, which produces fewer greenhouse gasses from transportation,” she said. “There’s nothing better than a local farm-fresh egg,”

It’s also an important development for the economic well-being of the territory, she said.

“Supporting local is important because it keeps hard-earned money within our territory, increases jobs, and supports the success of the communities,” Whitford said.

Polar Eggs are not yet being sold in Yellowknife, but Vane said that should happen by August.

Whitford is looking forward to it.

“Polar Eggs just taste better,” she said. “Please bring Polar Eggs back to Yellowknife soon.”

‘Instantly went back to being the number-one seller’

One place South Slave and Dehcho Region residents can already find Polar Eggs is in Northern and NorthMart stores.

David Adamson is the director of sales and operations for The North West Company.

He said they are currently selling the eggs at stores in Hay River, Fort Smith, Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson and Fort Providence.

“People were very excited to get this product back into our communities,” he said. “They instantly went back to being the number-one seller in our egg category.”

The return of Polar Eggs highlights the resiliency that northerners are known for, Adamson said.

“We are very excited to be able to once again offer this product in the communities we serve. It was missed by our customers.”