Under the deal - terms of which were not disclosed - Nature's Path will acquire 18 new organic products including canister oats and grits, instant hot oatmeal pouches, and cookies.
The Country Choice Organic brand will begin transitioning to Nature’s Path Organic branded packaging in the fall, while Nature’s Path will discontinue some Country Choice Organic instant hot oat pouches to avoid overlap in the combined portfolio, said Nature's Path EVP sales & marking Arjan Stephens.
“We look forward to building on a solid foundation to increase our presence and impact this rising category in new and important ways."
Founded in 1985, family owned Nature’s Path Foods is based in Richmond, British Columbia and operates four facilities in Canada and the US. Its brand stable includes Nature’s Path, Love Crunch, Qi’a, Que Pasa, Flax Plus, and EnviroKidz.
Grain Millers, based in Eden Prairie, MN, has been making organic products under the Country Choice Organic brand since 1995.
US retail sales of organic products rose 11.3% to $39.1bn in 2014, according to the Organic Trade Association (OTA).
Of this, organic food sales rose 11% to $35.9bn, while organic non-food sales, at $3.2bn, jumped almost 14%,
