Flour and ingredients manufacturer Ardent Mills plans to acquire a North Dakota company in an effort to bolster its specialty and gluten-free options, company officials announced.
The Denver-based company said that it reached an agreement to buy Stone Mill, a specialty grain cleaning facility in Richardton, North Dakota. Ardent Mills officials said that it has long partnered with Stone Mill, and that the acquisition would add its expertise in processing gluten-free and “identity-preserved” grains, pulses and seeds, as well as its microbial reduction capabilities.
The deal would ultimately help Ardent Mills’ customers meet growing demand for gluten-free products and “alternative ingredient solutions,” officials said.
“With Stone Mill's capabilities, we will enhance how we deliver on better-for-you solutions for our customers, so that they can be successful in addressing evolving consumer preferences,” Ardent Mills CEO Sheryl Wallace said in a statement.
“As we looked to the future, it was important to find a partner who shares that commitment," added Daneen Dressler, managing partner of Stone Mill. "By joining forces with Ardent Mills, we're ensuring that Stone Mill, and the people and community who have made it what it is today, will continue to thrive.”
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
