Post by Mr. Clean on Mar 8, 2009 20:48:05 GMT -5
SunOpta was founded in 1973 under the name “Stake Technology” to commercialize its proprietary steam explosion technology. These efforts continue today within SunOpta BioProcess Inc.
The acquisition of Barnes Environmental in 1995 led to the creation of Opta Minerals Inc., a vertically integrated player in the industrial mineral and environmental recycling markets. The company has grown steadily since that time, and in February 2005 completed an initial public offering, listing its common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange. SunOpta currently owns 66.6% of the common shares of Opta Minerals Inc.
The SunOpta Food Group was created in 1999 and through combination of internal growth and acquisitions has grown to become a North American leader in sourcing, organic, processing and distribution of natural and organic food products integrated from seed through packaged products.
Through this evolution a strong and vibrant organization has emerged with a strong commitment to natural, organic and specialty foods and environmental responsibility.
From less than $200,000 revenues in 1994, the Company has grown to expected revenues of $1.0 billion in 2008.
Timeline
SunOpta Food Group
April 2, 2008
Acquisition of Tradin Organic Agriculture B.V. (“Tradin”) headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Tradin is one of the world’s leading providers of globally sourced organic food ingredients. The Company is a key supplier of a wide variety of organic products including frozen fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, coffee, cocoa, cereals, rice, soy, beans, pulses, seeds, nuts, oils, dairy products, seasonings, sweeteners and more. The Company operates a number of wholly-owned and partially owned companies based in the Netherlands, China and Ethiopia. In addition, the Company maintains sales and sourcing operations in the United States, Germany, Austria, France and Thailand which source organic ingredients from extensive relationships in key growing areas around the globe.
Tradin’s organic foods sourcing and processing expertise complements SunOpta’s broad natural and organic foods platform, sourcing and processing from diverse geographies and serving a global customer base.
December 6, 2007
Acquisition of Neo-Nutritionals, Inc., located in Brantford, Ontario. Neo-Nutritionals develops and manufacturers a wide range of natural health products, in primarily tablet, capsule and powder form, and sells the products to both branded natural health products companies and as private label brands for mass market and natural health retailers. Neo-Nutritionals expands and integrates SunOpta’s natural health products manufacturing and packaging platform.
August 7, 2007
Acquisition of the operating assets of a soymilk manufacturing facility located in Heuvelton, New York from ProSoya Corporation. The addition of the Heuvelton, New York facility strategically expands SunOpta's soy manufacturing to the east coast of the United States and will significantly enhance the Company's ability to effectively serve its growing customer base in the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canadian markets.
May 15, 2007
Acquisition of the net operating assets of Congeladora del Rio, S.A. de C.V. (“Del Rio”) and all of the outstanding shares of Global Trading Inc. (“Global”). Del Rio operates a fruit processing facility in Irapuato, Mexico. The high quality facility processes strawberries, peaches, mangos, bananas, pineapples, honeydew melons and other fruits, into individually-quick frozen, block frozen and purees for the food service, industrial and retail markets. Global, the U.S. based marketing agent for Del Rio located in Greenville, South Carolina, markets 100% of the fruits processed at Del Rio.
May 4, 2007
Acquisition of certain assets of Baja California Congelados, S.A. de C.V. (“BCC”) of Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico. BCC is the leading frozen strawberry processor in Baja California, Mexico.
December 18, 2006
Acquisition of Aux Mille et une Saisons Inc., of Scotstown, east of Sherbrooke in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Aux Mille is a leading Quebec based distributor of certified organic and natural grocery products. Aux Mille will be integrated into the SunOpta Canadian Food Distribution Group.
November 9, 2006
Acquisition of Quest Vitamins Brand of vitamins, minerals and supplements. The acquisition will be integrated with the recently acquired operations of Purity Life Health Products and the SunOpta Canadian Food Distribution Group.
November 7, 2006
Acquisition of the Hess Food Group, of Chicago, Illinois. Hess is a supplier of fruits and vegetables focused primarily on the quick-service and casual restaurant industry.
September 21, 2006
Acquisition of Purity Life Health Products, based in Acton, Ontario. Purity distributes a wide range of health and beauty aids, vitamins, supplements and nutraceuticals.
December 22, 2005
Acquisition of Les Importations Cacheres Hahamovitch Inc., a Montreal based distributor of kosher and specialty foods.
July 13, 2005
Acquisition of Pacific Fruit Processors, Inc. (“Pacific”), located in South Gate, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. Pacific is a manufacturer of value-added fruit products with a focus on fruit-based ingredients for the dairy, bakery and beverage industries.
June 20, 2005
Acquisition of Cleugh’s Frozen Foods, Inc. (“Cleugh’s”), of Buena Park, California. Cleugh’s focuses on processing natural and organic frozen fruits and vegetables for the retail private label, food service and industrial markets.
June 2, 2005
Acquisition of Earthwise Processors, LLC (Earthwise), of Moorhead, Minnesota. Earthwise is a vertically integrated producer of organic and identity preserved, non-genetically modified grains, primarily focused on soy.
September 13, 2004
Acquisition of 51% of the outstanding shares of Organic Ingredients, Inc., a leading trader and provider of a wide range of certified organic industrial ingredients including processed fruit and vegetable based ingredients, sweeteners, vinegars and others. The remaining 49.9% of Organic Ingredients was acquired on April 5, 2005.
September 1, 2004
Acquisition of Kofman-Barenholtz Foods Limited, an established market leader in the distribution of kosher and specialty grocery products, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario.
May 31, 2004
Acquisition of the assets of Snapdragon Natural Foods Inc., a natural and organic distribution business in Toronto, Ontario.
May 1, 2004
Acquisition of Supreme Foods Limited, a certified organic, natural, kosher and specialty grocery products distributor headquartered in Toronto, Ontario.
April 19, 2004
Purchase of the General Mills Bakeries & Foodservice oat fiber processing facility located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
March 1, 2004
Acquisition of Distribue-Vie Fruits & Legumes Biologiques Inc. (“Distribue-Vie”). Distribue-Vie specializes in the distribution of organic fresh foods with an emphasis on produce. Select lines of grocery and drink items complement the product mix.
December 1, 2003
Acquisition of Sonne Labs, Inc. (operated as “Dakota Gourmet”) of Wahpeton, North Dakota. Dakota Gourmet is focused on the manufacture of innovative natural and organic snack foods using soy, corn and sunflower ingredients.
November 1, 2003
Acquisition of SIGCO Sun Products, Inc. ("SIGCO") of Breckenridge, Minnesota, a world wide supplier of sunflower products.
October 17, 2003
Acquisition of Pro Organics Marketing, Inc. (Pro Organics). Pro Organics is the leading distributor of certified organic fresh foods in Canada with distribution facilities located in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.
May 8, 2003
Acquisition of Kettle Valley Dried Fruit Ltd (Kettle Valley). Kettle Valley, located in Summerland, BC produces branded and private label natural and organic fruit bars for customers in the U.S., Canada and the U.K.
December 4, 2002
Acquisition of Opta Food Ingredients, Inc. (Opta). Opta, headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts, is a leading innovator, manufacturer and marketer of proprietary food ingredients.
December 1, 2002
Acquisition of Simply Organic Co. Ltd. (Simply), a Toronto, Ontario based distributor of a broad range of regionally and internationally grown and produced certified organic food products.
November 1, 2002
Acquisition of Wild West Organic Harvest Co-operative Association (Wild West) a Vancouver (Richmond), British Columbia based distributor of certified organic and natural food products throughout Western Canada to mass market and natural food retail outlets.
March 14, 2001
Acquisition of First Light Foods Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a supplier of soymilk to major retailers.
September 18, 2000
Acquisition of Northern Food and Dairy, Inc. (Northern) based in Alexandria, Minnesota. Northern is a leading producer of organic soy concentrate in the United States. In addition, Northern produces other soy beverage concentrates, natural food preservatives, and other functional and specialty food ingredients from four manufacturing facilities.
August 3, 1999
Acquisition of Sunrich, Inc., based in Hope, Minnesota. Sunrich, Inc. is an industrial supplier of specialty grains (non-GMO, organic, identity preserved) and premium food ingredients to major food producers in the United States and Japan.
Opta Minerals, Inc.
July 10, 2008
Acquisition of 67% of the outstanding common shares of MCP Mg-Serbien SAS (“MCP”) ofFrance. The transaction is a continuation of the global expansion of Opta Minerals. MCP sells magnesium products to a variety of industries in Europe including integrated steel mills and provides Opta Minerals with an entirely new customer base within the European Union.
September 4, 2007
Acquisition of 100% of the outstanding common shares of Newco a.s. of Kosice, Slovakia. The acquisition expands Opta’s business capabilities into Europe and complements existing operations which supply a wide range of desulphurization products in both the United States and Canada from operations in Indiana and Ontario.
October 4, 2006
Acquisition of 100% of the outstanding common shares of Bimac Corporation of Milan, Michigan. The addition of Bimac further increases Opta’s position in the industrial minerals business and further expands its current position as a key service provider to the steel industry.
February 15, 2006
Acquisition of Magnesium Technologies Corporation ("Magtech") of Richfield, Ohio. The addition of MagTech substantially increases Opta's position in the industrial minerals business and further expands its current position as a key service provider to the steel industry.
May 10, 2005
Acquisition of certain assets of the abrasives production division of Hillcrest Industries, Inc., located in Attica, New York.
April 1, 2004
Acquisition of Distribution A&L located in Drummindville, Quebec, a company specializing in the distribution of specialty abrasives and related products.
October 31, 2001
Acquisition of Virginia Materials and Supplies, Inc. (Virginia Materials) of Norfolk, Virginia, and the purchase of a 51% interest in International Materials & Supplies, Inc. (International Materials) located in Keeseville, New York. Virginia Materials is a supplier of silica-free abrasives to the shipbuilding and repair industry and to the bridge repair and roofing granular markets. International Materials produces industrial garnets as a by-product from a mining operation and processes these garnets for sale to the water filtration, water jet cutting and abrasives markets. On November 1, 2003 the remaining 49% of International Materials was purchased.
November 17, 2000
Acquisition of Temisca, Inc., a St. Bruno-de-Guigues, Quebec producer of specialty sands for the golf course, filtration, and commercial product markets.
March 1, 2000
Acquisition of George F. Pettinos (Canada) Limited, also known as PECAL, located in Hamilton, Ontario. PECAL is a manufacturer and supplier of materials to the steel and foundry industries.
January 20, 1995
Acquisition of 51% of the common shares of Barnes Environmental International (BEI), a Waterdown, Ontario based company. BEI processes and sells silica-free abrasives and industrial minerals and recycles inorganic materials. On November 15, 1995, the remaining 49% was acquired.
The acquisition of Barnes Environmental in 1995 led to the creation of Opta Minerals Inc., a vertically integrated player in the industrial mineral and environmental recycling markets. The company has grown steadily since that time, and in February 2005 completed an initial public offering, listing its common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange. SunOpta currently owns 66.6% of the common shares of Opta Minerals Inc.
The SunOpta Food Group was created in 1999 and through combination of internal growth and acquisitions has grown to become a North American leader in sourcing, organic, processing and distribution of natural and organic food products integrated from seed through packaged products.
Through this evolution a strong and vibrant organization has emerged with a strong commitment to natural, organic and specialty foods and environmental responsibility.
From less than $200,000 revenues in 1994, the Company has grown to expected revenues of $1.0 billion in 2008.
Timeline
SunOpta Food Group
April 2, 2008
Acquisition of Tradin Organic Agriculture B.V. (“Tradin”) headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Tradin is one of the world’s leading providers of globally sourced organic food ingredients. The Company is a key supplier of a wide variety of organic products including frozen fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, coffee, cocoa, cereals, rice, soy, beans, pulses, seeds, nuts, oils, dairy products, seasonings, sweeteners and more. The Company operates a number of wholly-owned and partially owned companies based in the Netherlands, China and Ethiopia. In addition, the Company maintains sales and sourcing operations in the United States, Germany, Austria, France and Thailand which source organic ingredients from extensive relationships in key growing areas around the globe.
Tradin’s organic foods sourcing and processing expertise complements SunOpta’s broad natural and organic foods platform, sourcing and processing from diverse geographies and serving a global customer base.
December 6, 2007
Acquisition of Neo-Nutritionals, Inc., located in Brantford, Ontario. Neo-Nutritionals develops and manufacturers a wide range of natural health products, in primarily tablet, capsule and powder form, and sells the products to both branded natural health products companies and as private label brands for mass market and natural health retailers. Neo-Nutritionals expands and integrates SunOpta’s natural health products manufacturing and packaging platform.
August 7, 2007
Acquisition of the operating assets of a soymilk manufacturing facility located in Heuvelton, New York from ProSoya Corporation. The addition of the Heuvelton, New York facility strategically expands SunOpta's soy manufacturing to the east coast of the United States and will significantly enhance the Company's ability to effectively serve its growing customer base in the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canadian markets.
May 15, 2007
Acquisition of the net operating assets of Congeladora del Rio, S.A. de C.V. (“Del Rio”) and all of the outstanding shares of Global Trading Inc. (“Global”). Del Rio operates a fruit processing facility in Irapuato, Mexico. The high quality facility processes strawberries, peaches, mangos, bananas, pineapples, honeydew melons and other fruits, into individually-quick frozen, block frozen and purees for the food service, industrial and retail markets. Global, the U.S. based marketing agent for Del Rio located in Greenville, South Carolina, markets 100% of the fruits processed at Del Rio.
May 4, 2007
Acquisition of certain assets of Baja California Congelados, S.A. de C.V. (“BCC”) of Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico. BCC is the leading frozen strawberry processor in Baja California, Mexico.
December 18, 2006
Acquisition of Aux Mille et une Saisons Inc., of Scotstown, east of Sherbrooke in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Aux Mille is a leading Quebec based distributor of certified organic and natural grocery products. Aux Mille will be integrated into the SunOpta Canadian Food Distribution Group.
November 9, 2006
Acquisition of Quest Vitamins Brand of vitamins, minerals and supplements. The acquisition will be integrated with the recently acquired operations of Purity Life Health Products and the SunOpta Canadian Food Distribution Group.
November 7, 2006
Acquisition of the Hess Food Group, of Chicago, Illinois. Hess is a supplier of fruits and vegetables focused primarily on the quick-service and casual restaurant industry.
September 21, 2006
Acquisition of Purity Life Health Products, based in Acton, Ontario. Purity distributes a wide range of health and beauty aids, vitamins, supplements and nutraceuticals.
December 22, 2005
Acquisition of Les Importations Cacheres Hahamovitch Inc., a Montreal based distributor of kosher and specialty foods.
July 13, 2005
Acquisition of Pacific Fruit Processors, Inc. (“Pacific”), located in South Gate, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. Pacific is a manufacturer of value-added fruit products with a focus on fruit-based ingredients for the dairy, bakery and beverage industries.
June 20, 2005
Acquisition of Cleugh’s Frozen Foods, Inc. (“Cleugh’s”), of Buena Park, California. Cleugh’s focuses on processing natural and organic frozen fruits and vegetables for the retail private label, food service and industrial markets.
June 2, 2005
Acquisition of Earthwise Processors, LLC (Earthwise), of Moorhead, Minnesota. Earthwise is a vertically integrated producer of organic and identity preserved, non-genetically modified grains, primarily focused on soy.
September 13, 2004
Acquisition of 51% of the outstanding shares of Organic Ingredients, Inc., a leading trader and provider of a wide range of certified organic industrial ingredients including processed fruit and vegetable based ingredients, sweeteners, vinegars and others. The remaining 49.9% of Organic Ingredients was acquired on April 5, 2005.
September 1, 2004
Acquisition of Kofman-Barenholtz Foods Limited, an established market leader in the distribution of kosher and specialty grocery products, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario.
May 31, 2004
Acquisition of the assets of Snapdragon Natural Foods Inc., a natural and organic distribution business in Toronto, Ontario.
May 1, 2004
Acquisition of Supreme Foods Limited, a certified organic, natural, kosher and specialty grocery products distributor headquartered in Toronto, Ontario.
April 19, 2004
Purchase of the General Mills Bakeries & Foodservice oat fiber processing facility located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
March 1, 2004
Acquisition of Distribue-Vie Fruits & Legumes Biologiques Inc. (“Distribue-Vie”). Distribue-Vie specializes in the distribution of organic fresh foods with an emphasis on produce. Select lines of grocery and drink items complement the product mix.
December 1, 2003
Acquisition of Sonne Labs, Inc. (operated as “Dakota Gourmet”) of Wahpeton, North Dakota. Dakota Gourmet is focused on the manufacture of innovative natural and organic snack foods using soy, corn and sunflower ingredients.
November 1, 2003
Acquisition of SIGCO Sun Products, Inc. ("SIGCO") of Breckenridge, Minnesota, a world wide supplier of sunflower products.
October 17, 2003
Acquisition of Pro Organics Marketing, Inc. (Pro Organics). Pro Organics is the leading distributor of certified organic fresh foods in Canada with distribution facilities located in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.
May 8, 2003
Acquisition of Kettle Valley Dried Fruit Ltd (Kettle Valley). Kettle Valley, located in Summerland, BC produces branded and private label natural and organic fruit bars for customers in the U.S., Canada and the U.K.
December 4, 2002
Acquisition of Opta Food Ingredients, Inc. (Opta). Opta, headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts, is a leading innovator, manufacturer and marketer of proprietary food ingredients.
December 1, 2002
Acquisition of Simply Organic Co. Ltd. (Simply), a Toronto, Ontario based distributor of a broad range of regionally and internationally grown and produced certified organic food products.
November 1, 2002
Acquisition of Wild West Organic Harvest Co-operative Association (Wild West) a Vancouver (Richmond), British Columbia based distributor of certified organic and natural food products throughout Western Canada to mass market and natural food retail outlets.
March 14, 2001
Acquisition of First Light Foods Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a supplier of soymilk to major retailers.
September 18, 2000
Acquisition of Northern Food and Dairy, Inc. (Northern) based in Alexandria, Minnesota. Northern is a leading producer of organic soy concentrate in the United States. In addition, Northern produces other soy beverage concentrates, natural food preservatives, and other functional and specialty food ingredients from four manufacturing facilities.
August 3, 1999
Acquisition of Sunrich, Inc., based in Hope, Minnesota. Sunrich, Inc. is an industrial supplier of specialty grains (non-GMO, organic, identity preserved) and premium food ingredients to major food producers in the United States and Japan.
Opta Minerals, Inc.
July 10, 2008
Acquisition of 67% of the outstanding common shares of MCP Mg-Serbien SAS (“MCP”) ofFrance. The transaction is a continuation of the global expansion of Opta Minerals. MCP sells magnesium products to a variety of industries in Europe including integrated steel mills and provides Opta Minerals with an entirely new customer base within the European Union.
September 4, 2007
Acquisition of 100% of the outstanding common shares of Newco a.s. of Kosice, Slovakia. The acquisition expands Opta’s business capabilities into Europe and complements existing operations which supply a wide range of desulphurization products in both the United States and Canada from operations in Indiana and Ontario.
October 4, 2006
Acquisition of 100% of the outstanding common shares of Bimac Corporation of Milan, Michigan. The addition of Bimac further increases Opta’s position in the industrial minerals business and further expands its current position as a key service provider to the steel industry.
February 15, 2006
Acquisition of Magnesium Technologies Corporation ("Magtech") of Richfield, Ohio. The addition of MagTech substantially increases Opta's position in the industrial minerals business and further expands its current position as a key service provider to the steel industry.
May 10, 2005
Acquisition of certain assets of the abrasives production division of Hillcrest Industries, Inc., located in Attica, New York.
April 1, 2004
Acquisition of Distribution A&L located in Drummindville, Quebec, a company specializing in the distribution of specialty abrasives and related products.
October 31, 2001
Acquisition of Virginia Materials and Supplies, Inc. (Virginia Materials) of Norfolk, Virginia, and the purchase of a 51% interest in International Materials & Supplies, Inc. (International Materials) located in Keeseville, New York. Virginia Materials is a supplier of silica-free abrasives to the shipbuilding and repair industry and to the bridge repair and roofing granular markets. International Materials produces industrial garnets as a by-product from a mining operation and processes these garnets for sale to the water filtration, water jet cutting and abrasives markets. On November 1, 2003 the remaining 49% of International Materials was purchased.
November 17, 2000
Acquisition of Temisca, Inc., a St. Bruno-de-Guigues, Quebec producer of specialty sands for the golf course, filtration, and commercial product markets.
March 1, 2000
Acquisition of George F. Pettinos (Canada) Limited, also known as PECAL, located in Hamilton, Ontario. PECAL is a manufacturer and supplier of materials to the steel and foundry industries.
January 20, 1995
Acquisition of 51% of the common shares of Barnes Environmental International (BEI), a Waterdown, Ontario based company. BEI processes and sells silica-free abrasives and industrial minerals and recycles inorganic materials. On November 15, 1995, the remaining 49% was acquired.