Our History
Solar Eggs is a 3rd generation business success story. Run by Jonathan Attard, the business has certainly evolved since initially being set up as a hobby farm by his grandfather in 1927 in Silverton, Broken Hill. By the 1940’s this “hobby farm” was the largest egg supplier in Broken Hill, so crucial in fact, that during the Second World War, Jonathan’s grandfather was placed on home reserve.

In 1953 the poultry farm moved to Seacombe Gardens and experienced rapid growth due to the shortage of eggs after the war. Moving to North Plympton in 1961 the farm was then handed down to Jonathan’s father John, who was an electrician by trade, in 1972. It was then that the Solar Eggs name was established and the business continued its rapid rise.

In 1992, John seeking a sea change began studying remedial massage at night with plans to close down Solar Eggs. Son Jonathan, undertaking marketing studies at the time, deferred and bought the family business in 2000 and instigated what has been a massive growth phase in the company’s history.

John is still very well known and respected in the industry due to his involvement over the years. John was on the board of SAFF for 20 years and was Chairman of the Commercial Egg Producers Association of SA for 6 years. John still represents Solar Eggs at meetings that Jonathan cannot attend.

The Solar Eggs site at North Plympton has expanded through investing over $3 million in new sheds, increasing staff levels to over 20 people and running a fleet of cars and trucks. Recently, warehousing adjoining the original Lea Street property was purchased in Kinkaid Avenue and developed to include a commercial kitchen and contemporary facilities for the Solar Eggs team. Through this acquisition Jonathan will diversify into new lines including baked goods, made with eggs of course, which will retail in independent grocers and specialty stores.

An unhappy chicken will not lay eggs. Evidence of Jonathan’s commitment to advancing farming techniques is in the building of a display farm, which will house 10,000 birds producing barn laid eggs. This industry first will set a benchmark in farming and will be used as an educational tool for colleagues and the public.

In 2003, Jonathan launched his revolutionary Gourmet Breakfast brand retailing across South Australia in independent supermarkets, Foodland, BP On the Run and specialty stores. The range includes caged, barn laid and free range eggs and provides consumers with a recipe inside each carton. The response to the packaging has been tremendous and the brand’s continued success is a testament to the quality of the eggs inside.

With the upcoming launch of a parochial label, Adelaide Eggs, the future certainly looks bright. Rising above industry deregulation, Solar Eggs currently supplies over 60,000 dozen eggs each week and is undoubtedly a market leader in South Australia. A new farm in Kangaroo Island will also enable Solar Eggs to meet market demand for the highly sought free range eggs produced on the island. Jonathan is committed to evolving his business to meet the changing needs of consumers whilst remaining at the forefront of egg farming, marketing and supply in the State. Evidence of Solar Eggs rise to success is the endorsement in 2007 by SA Great.