Austrian firm Agrana has acquired US-based organic distributor Marroquin Organic International to expand its distribution activities in the starch sector.

Neither company has disclosed any financial details.

Established by Grace Marroquin in 1991, Marroquin Organic is based in Santa Cruz, California. It has supplied organic and non-GMO ingredients for nearly three decades.

The deal includes 100% shares in Marroquin Organic, a longstanding distribution partner of Agrana Stärke, the operating company of Agrana’s starch division.

Marroquin helps its customers create new products by identifying and sourcing new and emerging organic and non-GMO ingredients.

Marroquin said: “Teaming up with Agrana is a natural choice for us. We’ve been working with their outstanding product line for over 20 years, helping the industry to grow and innovate.

“Agrana is well-positioned to support the organic and non-GMO market as it continues to grow in North America.”

Agrana’s produces its starch by processing potatoes, corn and wheat. It then supplies them to the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

The company operates three starch mills in Austria and has production sites in Hungary and Romania. It offers a range of non-GMO and organic products to the food industry under its specialities strategy.

Agrana CEO Johann Marihart said: “This acquisition is a perfect fit in terms of implementing our specialities strategy in the starch segment.

“Agrana possesses many years of experience in the production of speciality starches and is increasingly focusing on baby food and clean label starches which have not been chemically modified.”

Last month, Agrana announced that it will invest in its research and development (R&D) facilities located in France and Austria.

Agrana said that it will invest €2.6m in a new development centre for fruit preparation in Mitry-Mory, France.