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

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."

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.