Flour milling and ingredient firm Ardent Mills is expanding its specialty grain capabilities of it’s The Annex by Ardent Mills business with the purchase of a quinoa sourcing, cleaning, and packaging facility in Yuba City, CA from Andean Naturals Inc., the company announced in a release Wednesday.

“Our industry is rapidly changing as consumers’ appetite for variety in their diets continues to increase,” Dan Dye, the chief executive officer of Ardent Mills, said in a statement. “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.”

Once the purchase is completed, the facility in Yuba City will be the first gluten-free sourcing and cleaning facility in Ardent Mills’ network. The site also has capabilities to clean and handle other grains. 

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Last year, The Annex, Ardent Mills’ specialty grains-focused business unit, entered into an agreement to serve as the exclusive supplier of Colorado Quinoa LLC’s U.S.-grown quinoa products. 

“In The Annex, we are proud to offer ingredients from passionate, knowledgeable farmers, and this purchase continues that tradition,” The Annex General Manager Shane White said in the release. “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.”

The president and founder of Andean Naturals Inc., Sergio Nunez de Arco, is slated to join Ardent Mills following the close of the deal. Ardent Mills expects the transaction to close in by the middle of this month. 

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