Ingredients and flour milling company Ardent Mills is moving forward on plans to purchase most of the business operations of North American chickpea sourcing, cleaning, and packing firm Hinrichs Trading Company, a recent release announced.

The Denver-based miller said the acquisition of Hinrichs will boost its specialty ingredient capabilities and expand its portfolio. Hinrichs, headquartered in Pullman, WA, has five facilities across Montana and Washington. The chickpea packer has been in business for more than three decades.

“Ardent Mills and Hinrichs Trading Company share a strong commitment to our growers, customers, team members, communities, and to growth and innovation,” Dan Dye, the CEO of Ardent Mills, said in a release. “There is a strong cultural alignment and shared values across both organizations. We look forward to welcoming the talented Hinrichs Trading Company team to the Ardent Mills family.”

The transaction is expected to close this April. Ardent Mills’ purchase of the company comes on the heels of other recent investments intended to expand its position in specialty ingredients and plant genetics. In February 2020, the company bought Andean Naturals’ quinoa operations. It also recently acquired an organic grain elevator in Klamath Falls, OR and expanded the capabilities of a community mill in Denver to clean and pack specialty grains.

“The plant-based food and beverage market shows no sign of slowing down. In fact, we continue to see significant growth as customers look to foods that align with their individual values – both personal and planetary,” said Shrene White, general manager of The Annex by Ardent Mills, in a statement. “Ardent Mills has made proactive investments to meet this demand. This potential venture will enable us to offer diverse chickpea solutions to our customers from day one.”