Ardent Mills to acquire quinoa operations of Andean Naturals

Ardent Mills, a flour-milling and ingredient company, said that its business unit The Annex is acquiring the quinoa operations of Andean Naturals in California, as per the latest food acquisition news.

Financial terms of the transaction were not revealed.

Under the deal, Ardent Mills will be buying Andean Naturals’ quinoa sourcing, cleaning, and packaging operation in Yuba City.

The acquisition, which will increase the specialty grain capabilities of Ardent Mills, is likely to be wrapped up in mid-February 2020.

Based in Yuba City, Andean Naturals is an importer cum wholesaler of organic quinoa. The company has a quinoa refining facility in La Paz, Bolivia.

Sergio Nunez de Arco – President and Founder of Andean Naturals said: “For Andean Naturals, this mutually beneficial acquisition is the natural progression of our mission to share quinoa with the world. While we’ve built expertise in quinoa sourcing and connections to South American farmers, Ardent Mills brings milling and technical expertise, access to markets and the ability to scale quickly with a sustainable approach.

“Our team is excited to be a part of Ardent Mills, offering a similar values-based culture and solid vision for growth.”

Ardent Mills to acquire quinoa operations of Andean Naturals. Photo courtesy of ARDENT MILLS.

According to Ardent Mills, Yuba City will be its first gluten-free sourcing and cleaning facility which will have the ability to expand to accommodate additional grains.

Dan Dye – CEO of Ardent Mills said: “Our industry is rapidly changing as consumers’ appetite for variety in their diets continues to increase.

“As a result, we are making proactive investments in The Annex to meet consumer demand for high-quality, nutritious grains and other sources of plant-based ingredients. With this acquisition, we will be able to offer a complete solution for quinoa and other gluten-free ingredients.”

The transaction follows Annex’s recent acquisition of an organic grain elevator in Klamath Falls, Oregon, the Colorado Quinoa exclusivity partnership, and also the Denver RiNo investment for clean and pack specialty grains.