Feed pellets
Crosswind Industries manufactures contract and private label pet treats and foods, as well as specialty ingredients. 
Photo courtesy iStock.
 
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S. — Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) said it has signed an agreement to acquire Crosswind Industries, Inc., a Kansas, U.S.-based producer of dry-expanded, dual-texture, semi-dry and semi-moist treat products for pets.

“The global pet food industry represents a strong opportunity for strategic growth, especially for a company with the global resources of ADM,” said Brent Fenton, president of ADM’s Animal Nutrition business. “ADM already sells more than 50 ingredients and commodities that are used by more than 70% of all pet food companies in North America. Now, we’re taking the next step with the addition of Crosswind Industries to our global network. With five production facilities and a wide range of successful products, Crosswind represents a strong opportunity to expand our capabilities, and a great fit not just with the Animal Nutrition business, but across ADM’s wider portfolio of ingredients, colors and flavors for pets. We’re looking forward to combining Crosswind’s operations and products with our own to provide customers an even broader array of products and services.”

Crosswind Industries manufactures contract and private label pet treats and foods, as well as specialty ingredients. Its 300 employees operate five processing lines across five Kansas, U.S., facilities, with nine “ready for retail” packaging lines.

“Since early 2015, we have announced or completed several organic growth and improvement projects for our Animal Nutrition business across the U.S., as well as overseas,” Fenton said. “We’ve also been active on the M&A front, with the acquisition of Lyrco Nutrition and the creation of our Alliance Liquid Feeds joint venture. Now, with the addition of Crosswinds, we are continuing our efforts to grow our business so as to set the industry standard and ensure that we are continuing to meet growing customer needs for quality animal nutrition products.”

ADM anticipates closing the deal in the coming weeks.

This is the latest in the series of ADM expansion, acquisition projects. In December 2016, ADM announced its plans to expand overall grind and finishing capacity for sweeteners and starches at its corn wet mill facilities in Turkey and Bulgaria.

In June 2016, ADM launched a new soybean crushing capacity at its oilseeds plant in Straubing, Germany. Straubing’s new capability allows the site to crush soybeans sourced from the Danube region in order to market European non-GMO soymeal and oil to customers in Western Europe. ADM also announced in the same month the opening of its new feed facility in Glencoe, Minnesota, U.S., with an annual capacity of 100,000 tonnes.

The company also announced that it is investing to expand and modernize its pet food and specialty livestock feed operations in Effingham, Illinois, U.S. The Effingham facility is expected to be fully operational in late 2017 or early 2018.

In November, ADM announced plans to build a new, modern feed facility to replace its current operations in Quincy, Illinois, U.S. The new facility will include expanded warehouse space, enhanced capability to serve increased demand for the company’s products, a dedicated feed line for non-medicated product, automated packaging and process controls, and pressed tubs for multiple species. It is expected to be completed in mid-2018.