Ironbridge Equity Partners acquires Avena Foods

Regina, SK and Toronto — Ironbridge acquired control of Avena Foods on June 1, and will partner with the local management team to continue growing the business.

Avena Foods is a producer of pure, uncontaminated, organic certified, gluten-free oats through its Purity Protocol farm to table production model. Avena has an established network of over 90 gluten-free and organic oat growers across the Canadian prairies and a dedicated gluten-free and allergen-free milling facility in Regina, Sask. The Purity Protocol is an industry benchmark process that is based on “Start Clean, Stay Clean” principles proven to produce certified gluten-free oats consistently below the 5 ppm level which is superior to the gluten-free standards of the USDA, GFCO, GFCP and Health Canada, reports the company in a press statement.

Ironbridge Equity Partners is a Toronto-based private equity firm with a fund of more than $400 million of assets under management, focused exclusively on investing in companies in the Canadian middle market. They focus on traditional industry businesses in the manufacturing, distribution, consumer products and services with distinct competitive advantages, currently including four investments in Saskatchewan.