RICHMOND, B.C. — Nature’s Path Foods has acquired the Country Choice Organic brand from New Century Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Grain Millers, Inc. Country Choice’s products include canister oats and grits, instant hot oatmeal pouches, and cookies. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“This transaction allows both of our organizations to continue to build the organic segment to the benefit of consumers and retailers,” said Arran Stephens, co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Nature’s Path.
The Country Choice Organic brand will begin transitioning to Nature’s Path branded packaging in the fall of 2015. To streamline product overlap, Nature’s Path said it will discontinue several Country Choice Organic instant hot oat pouches. There will be no UPC, net weight or price changes to the remaining Country Choice Organic stock-keeping units, the company said.
Arjan Stephens, executive vice-president of sales and marketing at Nature’s Path Foods, said he looks forward to the opportunity for the company to increase its presence in the organic hot cereal canisters category.
Founded in 1985, Nature’s Path Organic Foods is headquartered in Richmond and operates four facilities in Canada and the United States. The company’s brands include Nature’s Path, Love Crunch, Qi’a, Que Pasa, Flax Plus, and EnviroKidz.
Grain Millers, based in Eden Prairie, Minn., has produced U.S.D.A.-certified organic products under the Country Choice Organic brand since 1995.
