Two Prairie companies merge

Regina, Sask. and Portage La Prairie, Man. – Avena Foods Limited and Best Cooking Pulses Inc. have merged their companies.

In a statement, the companies say the move will “provide both companies with exciting new opportunities” for their customers and for their growers.

Avena supplies gluten-free oats that are free from wheat, barley and rye. The company has a dedicated gluten-free facility and allergen-free milling facility in Regina. On its website, Avena Foods says it has an established network of more than 90 gluten-free and organic oat growers across Canada’s Prairies.

Avena Foods started what it calls the Purity Protocol, “an industry benchmark process that is based on ‘Start Clean, Stay Clean’ principles that meet and surpass the gluten-free standards of the Gluten-Free Certification Organization, the Gluten-Free Certification Program, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada.

Best Cooking Pulses is family-owned agrifoods business that was started in 1936. The company has two pulse-dedicated facilities, one in Portage La Prairie, Man. and the other in Rowatt, Sask.

On its website it says the at the Manitoba facility Best Cooking Pulses uses proprietary milling methods to create gluten-free tested pulse flours, pea hull fibres, pet food and nutraceutical markets. At the Saskatchewan facility the company sources, cleans and bags whole peas, lentils and chickpeas, and it de-hulls, splits and polishes peas for sale throughout the world.

Trudy Heal, Best Cooking Pulses’ president, says “Avena’s ‘Purity Protocol’ aligns well with Best Cooking Pulses’ commitment to pulse ingredients for healthy diets and a sustainable world. The structure of this partnership will allow us to take advantage of synergies and to build on the existing strengths of both companies.”