Ardent Mills to acquire Andean Naturals’ quinoa operations

DENVER, Colo. — Ardent Mills, a flour-milling and ingredient company, has announced its intention to purchase agrigoods importer Andean Naturals Inc.’s quinoa sourcing, cleaning and packaging operation in Yuba City, California.

The purchase is expected to be finalized in mid-February 2020.  

“Our industry is rapidly changing as consumers’ appetite for variety in their diets continues to increase,” said Dan Dye, CEO of Ardent Mills, in a prepared statement. “As a result, we are making proactive investments in The Annex (Ardent Mills’ speciality grains business unit) 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.”

Yuba City will be Ardent Mills’ first gluten-free sourcing and cleaning facility with the ability to expand to additional grains.

Shrene White, general manager of The Annex business unit, added, “This company is a longtime leader in quinoa sourcing, cleaning and packing in North America with extensive industry knowledge, grower relationships and a fantastic reputation. This acquisition further supports our commitment to what’s next in grain and plant-based innovation.”

Andean Naturals President and Founder Sergio Nunez de Arco will join Ardent Mills.

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