WESTERN PRODUCER — Richardson International is now in the malting business.
Richardson announced July 7 that it had purchased Anglia Maltings, a company with headquarters in Great Ryburgh, England.
“As experienced handlers of malting barley in North America, this is an exciting next step in our long-term strategy, which includes the diversification of our business and continued growth in the food processing industry,” said Curt Vossen, Richardson chief executive officer.
The terms and price of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Anglia Maltings operates in the United Kingdom, Poland and Germany. It employs about 370 people and runs a diverse line of businesses.
That includes Crisp Malt, which has been in the malting business since 1870. Crisp Malt has malt facilities in England, two in Scotland, one in Poland and one in Germany.
Anglia Maltings also operates Micronized Food Products (MFP), and EDME Food Ingredients.
“MFP specializes in the production of cereals and pulses for brewing and animal feed, while EDME Food Ingredients focuses on malted and non-malted products catering to the baking industry,” Richardson said in the release.
The company said the acquisition allows Richardson to tap into strong global demand for malt and malting barley.
Most Canadian farmers think of Richardson as a grain handler and merchandiser, but in the last two decades it has made significant investments in food processing. Richardson is expanding its canola crushing plant in Yorkton, Sask., and last year it acquired Italgrani USA, North America’s largest durum miller. It also operates oat mills in Canada, the U.K. and the United States.
The private firm has also built the Richardson Innovation Centre, a food product development and quality-testing facility in downtown Winnipeg.
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