Above Food Corp., a vertically integrated plant-based food company, will acquire Sonic Milling Systems Ltd., a food-technology business focused on developing disruptive processing techniques to create plant-based ingredients and products more cost effectively, using fewer resources, while increasing the bio-availability of nutrients. This acquisition brings with it a full suite of proprietary intellectual property and global patent coverage for core and recently developed ancillary technologies.
Sonic Milling's proprietary hydrodynamic-cavitation technology uses water and pressure to create microscopic air bubbles capable of breaking apart a diverse range of ingredients—from whole grains and pulses to fruits and vegetables—into clean-label liquids and sauces without the need for stabilizers or added oils.
Currently, Sonic Milling has deployed the technology to produce oat-concentrate, oat beverage, and oat creamer for some of North America's largest retailers and brands.
"Combining Sonic Milling's ability to process whole oats with Above Food's scaled gluten-free oat-production program and primary processing infrastructure, we see advantages in preserving nutrient quality while having the lowest unit economics," noted Wayne Goranson, CEO of Sonic Milling Systems, in a statement. ”Together we can offer a full range of clean-label oat-products and ingredients nutritiously, efficiently, and at scale.”
Along with the ability to process grains, pulses, and fruits and vegetables into clean-label liquids and sauces, hydrodynamic-cavitation technology creates controlled heat and pressure, improving digestibility and reducing unwanted flavors, without denaturing nutrients or proteins. Through this process, the result is increased protein digestibility from grains and pulses.
"We've been searching for the last two years to uncover an alternative to conventional fractionated protein concentrates and were focused on technology that increases the bio-availability of the native nutrients and proteins found in pulses, grains, and vegetables. Sonic Milling has done just that in the protein beverage space," said Lionel Kambeitz, CEO and executive chairman of Above Food, in a statement.
The acquisition also adds futuristic and scaled aseptic packaging infrastructure and capabilities to Above Food's technology stack. With recyclable shelf stable packaging launching later next year, Above Food's new Eco-Lean packaging line will enable synergies and advancements in packaging sustainability across its other shelf-stable consumer brands: Farmer Direct Organic, Loma Linda, and TUNO.
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