SunOpta Buys U.S. Sunflower Seed Company

Brampton, Ont.-based SunOpta Inc. has acquired Crookston, Minn.-based sunflower seed producer Dahlgren & Company Inc. for $44 million. According to SunOpta, the acquisition will create one of the largest confection sunflower businesses in the world.

Dahlgren processes and supplies sunflower seeds for use in snack foods, bakery products and food ingredients, in addition to selling roasted sunflower and soy nuts. Approximately 40 per cent of its products are sold to markets outside of the U.S. It has four processing facilities in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

“The acquisition provides our combined operations with the size and scale required to be a key player in growing domestic and international markets,” says Allan Routh, president of the SunOpta Grains and Foods Group.

SunOpta Grains and Foods Group already processes sunflowers under its SunOpta Sunflower division. SunOpta focuses on natural, organic and speciality foods, and natural health products.