USA — Grain Processing Corporation (GPC), a member of KENT Corporation, completed its purchase of the Natural Products Inc. (NPI) business.

NPI makes full-fat soy ingredients made from non-GMO or certified organic soybeans and also processes other beans and grains, including chickpeas and oats.

These ingredients provide both nutritional and functional improvements to many categories and are taking the industry by storm in the clean label sector.

According to Brandessence Market Research, The Clean Label Ingredients Market size reached US$ 43.32 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach size of US$ 68.57 billion by 2028, growing at robust CAGR of 6.78% in the forecast period.

“Consumers today want transparency, pristine quality and assurance that their food is healthy and made to the highest quality standards,” said Patrick Homoelle, president of GPC.

“With NPI’s plant-based, non-GMO, organic and gluten-free ingredient solutions, this acquisition is a great fit with our field to family portfolio of businesses.”

GPC’s primary products include high purity alcohol, corn starches and maltodextrins. The company’s customers operate in the beverage alcohol, food, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, personal care and industrial starch applications fields.

 “I am tremendously proud to welcome the NPI team to GPC,” said Jimmy Kent, SVP of sales for GPC. “We are investing further into sustainable quality food production through this family-to-family, Iowa-to-Iowa acquisition, helping us increase our diverse portfolio of products that help feed the growing world.”

KENT is a diversified, privately-held corporation with operating subsidiaries involved in corn wet milling, the production of animal nutrition and the manufacture of high-quality food, beverage, pharmaceutical and pet products. 

In 2020 and 2021, KENT Corporation was named as a U.S. Best Managed Company, an exclusive honor from Deloitte Private and the Wall Street Journal recognizing private-company success based on factors including strategy, execution, culture and financial performance.

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