Canadian grain giant Richardson International Ltd. is planning to expand south of the border and further downstream with the US$375-million acquisition of pasta business 8th Avenue Food & Provisions Inc.

The 168-year old Canadian agricultural heavyweight will purchase three production facilities located in North Dakota, Minnesota and Virginia from U.S.-based Post Holdings POST-N should the deal – announced Friday – close as expected later this year. It also includes the Ronzoni retail brand.

In a company press release, the president and CEO, Darwin Sobkow, called it “an exciting new chapter for Richardson,” because it will allow the company to further integrate a core strength of the business: durum wheat.

“The opportunity to extend our reach into pasta builds directly on that foundat

See Full Page