KENT subsidiary Grain Processing Corporation acquires Natural Products Inc.

Grain Processing purchase KENT Corporation
Gage Kent, KENT Corporation Chairman and CEO with son and fourth-generation leadership, Jimmy Kent at Natural Products, Inc., a new member of the KENT family of companies, in Grinnell, Iowa.

Grain Processing Corporation (GPC), a member of the Muscatine-based KENT Corporation family of companies, has completed its purchase of Natural Products, Inc. (NPI), based in Grinnell, officials from both companies announced Thursday, July 7.

NPI is a leading manufacturer of full-fat soy ingredients made from non-GMO or Certified Organic soybeans. The company also processes other legumes, including chickpeas. These ingredients provide both nutritional and functional improvements to many categories.

“Consumers today want transparency, pristine quality and assurance their food is healthy and made to the highest quality standards,” said GPC president Patrick Homoelle in a news release. “With NPI’s plant-based, non-GMO, organic and gluten-free ingredient solutions, this acquisition is a great fit with our field-to-family portfolio of businesses.”

“I am tremendously proud to welcome the NPI team to GPC,” added Jimmy Kent, senior vice president of sales for GPC, after the Grain Processing purchase. “We are investing further into sustainable quality food production through this family-to-family, Iowa-to-Iowa acquisition, helping us increase our diverse portfolio of products that help feed the growing world.”

GPC’s primary products include high purity alcohol, corn starches and maltodextrins. It sells its products to customers that use GPC ingredients for beverage alcohol, food products, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, personal care and industrial starch applications.

KENT is a diversified, privately-held corporation with operating subsidiaries involved in corn wet milling, the production of animal nutrition and the manufacture of food, beverage, pharmaceutical and pet products. Led by third-generation family member Gage A. Kent, the KENT family of companies serves customers across the world and employs more than 2,000 people in 40 locations across 20 states and seven countries.

In 2020, KENT Corporation was named as a U.S. Best Managed Company, an exclusive honor from Deloitte Private and the Wall Street Journal recognizing private-company success based on factors including strategy, execution, culture and financial performance. The company received the honor again in 2021.