HISTORY

Celebrating 60 years

CWT was formed in 1958 by combining three existing hatching eggs companies – Twin Oaks Hatchery, A.C. Smith Milling Company and Bruce and Wilson Company. The original owners were Mr. John Cromartie, Mr. Max Ward and Mr. Tankersley, hence the CWT name.

In 1959 a broiler processing unit was added to the company. This unit, known as Mar-Jac, was sold in 1977 to the SAAR (Saudi Arabia) Foundation. HFC Feeds, a large feed mill, was formed at the same time as the broiler processing unit, and a mill was constructed in 1966. It was also sold to the SAAR Foundation in 1977.

A vaccine laboratory and manufacturing unit, Select Labs, was established in Gainesville, GA in the late 1970’s. It originally focused on Marek’s disease control vaccines. This company was subsequently sold to the Rhone-Polenc Group. It is currently owned by Boehringer Ingelheim.

CWT was purchased by the Arbor Acres broiler breeder division of Booker, London, England in 1989. The Arbor Acres Division was sold to BC Partners, a private investment company, and combined with Ross Breeders Ltd. into the Aviagen Group, the largest producer of broiler breeders in the world in 1999. The Aviagen Group changed ownership in 2003 when Advent International purchased it from BC Partners. Advent sold the group to Erich Wesjohann GMBH & Co. KG (the Erich Wesjohann Group), a leader in the poultry egg science industry.

CWT has access to all major breeding companies, which allows us to source the right breed for each customer’s needs. Through years of experience and research, CWT has developed handling and shipping controls to ensure safe transports of its eggs. CWT is accredited by the National Poultry Improvement Plan, works to meet the most stringent biosecurity requirements.