Ardent Mills has launched a new business unit to provide food companies and foodservice operators with ‘next’ grains and unique plant-based ingredients.

The US-based flour supplier and grain innovator will focus on partnering with farmers and customers to develop speciality ingredients and products for the new unit called The Annex.

The Annex general manager Shrene White said: “An annex is independent yet is part of something bigger. We’re excited to be empowered by Ardent Mills to be idea cultivators and solution providers.

“The Annex will support Ardent Mills traditional flour customers and a wide spectrum of new customers by offering a one-of-a-kind product portfolio.

“We love a challenge. And we bring to our work an earnest desire to collaborate with customers, farmers, universities and researchers, supporting their innovation and cultivating ideas to help build their businesses, whether it’s in fresh or packaged prepared foods, bakery or beverage.”

“It’s a big step based on a simple, powerful idea: good food matters to everyone, and it should be available to everyone.”

The unit operates as a ‘company-within-a-company’, forming lasting ties with farmers, university and private research teams, customers, and key vendors to identify, source, grow and pioneer everything from organic and heirloom grains to leading-edge ingredients.

The Annex will operate as part of Ardent Mills and will be supported by the parent company in terms of the resources, relationships and expertise.

Ardent Mills CEO Dan Dye said: “We’re excited about the possibilities The Annex opens up. It’s a big step based on a simple, powerful idea: good food matters to everyone, and it should be available to everyone.

“We look forward to working closely with our partners big and small as we dream together about wher that idea is headed next.”

The Annex will offer a wide range of food products, and its portfolio will consist of heirloom wheats and ancient grains including Ardent Mills Great Plains Quinoa, amaranth, millet, buckwheat, teff and sorghum.

Innovative Bakery Resources, a business unit of Ardent Mills and Arlington mix facility, will also be integrated into The Annex.