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Organic Processing Industry Structure



The development of the USDA National Organic Standard in place of differing state/regional standards was widely predicted to accelerate trends of increasing consolidation in this sector. The first draft of the standard was released in 1997; what changes in ownership and control have since occurred?





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PDF version of Organic Industry Structure: Acquisitions & Alliances, Top 100 Food Processors in North America



The first wave of acquisitions of organic processors was concentrated between December, 1997 when the draft USDA standard was released, and its full implementation in October, 2002. A second wave of acquisitions has been occurring since 2012. Few companies identify these ownership ties on product labels.1





Updates:

November 2016: Pilgrim's Pride (#18, but 76% owned by #4 JBS) acquired The GNP Company (Just BARE chicken) for $350 M.

November 2016: Dean Foods and Organic Valley form a 50/50 joint venture.

July 2016: Danone announced it would acquire WhiteWave for $12.5 B.

June 2016: Coca-Cola acquired minority stake in Aloe Gloe; Kellogg acquired Pure Organic.

May 2016: Hormel acquired Justin's (nut butters) for $286 M.

March 2016: Pulmuone acquired Vitasoy/Nasoya for $50 M.

March 2016: General Mills invested $1.25 M in Tio Gazpacho.



Other transactions:

Cal-Maine announced it would acquire Dixie Egg Company in August 2016.

Fyffe's (Ireland) acquired Highline Produce (Canada) for $111 M in May 2016.

Emmi (Switzerland) acquired Cowgirl Creamery in May 2016 and Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery in December 2015.

John B. Sanfilippo & Son, which was ranked the 98th largest food processor in 2012, acquired Orchard Valley Harvest (May 2010, $29.5 M).

Heinz acquired a 19.5% stake in Hain Celestial in 1999 while also transferring ownership of their Earth's Best brand, but sold all of its Hain Celestial stock in 2005.

ConAgra acquired Ralcorp in November 2012 for $6.8 B, but sold it to TreeHouse Foods in November 2015 for $2.7 B.











PDF version of Organic Industry Structure: Major Independents and Their Subsidiary Brands



Most remaining independent organic processors have resisted substantial buyout offers (typically 2 times annual sales).2

Updates: Applegate Farms is no longer independent, acquired by Hormel in May 2015 for $775 million (following an investment from Swander Pace Capital in 2009); So Delicious/Turtle Mountain/Purely Decadent is no longer independent, acquired by WhiteWave in September 2014 for $195 million.



Nature's Path, which remains independent, acquired Que Pasa in November 2012, Country Choice Organic in July 2015, and 51% of Gorilly Goods in September 2016.









Network Animation of Data from 1995 to 2007







Produced in collaboration with Skye Bender-deMoll , an author of SoNIA - Social Network Image Animator .







PDF version of Organic Industry Structure: Private Label Brands



An increasing number of supermarkets, wholesale clubs and distributors are introducing organic private label products, in addition to chains that specialize in organic and natural foods.



See also: Organic Brands, Organic Distribution & Retail, Organic Farms

