Grain Craft completes acquisition of Bunge’s North American dry corn milling assets
The acquired assets include three dry corn milling facilities as well as three dry masa plants.
USA – Grain Craft, one of the largest independent flour millers in the United States, has finalized its acquisition of Bunge’s North American dry corn milling operations, a move that significantly expands its presence in the grain-based ingredient sector.
The transaction, which was officially completed on July 1, 2025, adds six production facilities, a packaging and transloading center, and a distribution warehouse to Grain Craft’s operations, along with approximately 600 new employees.
The acquired assets include three dry corn milling facilities located in Crete, Nebraska; Atchison, Kansas; and Danville, Illinois, as well as three dry masa plants in Muleshoe, Texas; Red Oak, Iowa; and Worthington, Indiana.
The deal also covers a packaging and logistics facility in Querétaro, Mexico, and a distribution center in Rancho Cucamonga, California.
As part of the agreement, the headquarters for the corn milling operations will remain in St. Louis, Missouri, while the division integrates into Grain Craft’s broader organizational structure.
Pete Frederick, Grain Craft’s President and CEO welcomed the new team members and emphasized the strategic nature of the acquisition.
“After months of anticipation and preparation, we are excited to officially welcome our new Corn Milling team members to the Grain Craft family,” Frederick said.
“We are looking forward to adding the experience and knowledge of this business to Grain Craft as we enter into providing an even broader spectrum of food ingredients for our customers,” he added.
Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Grain Craft operates 15 flour mills across the United States and owns Central Milling, an organic and artisan flour supplier.
The acquisition allows the company to diversify beyond wheat flour into corn-based ingredients, including dry corn grits, corn meal, and masa flours—essential components in products ranging from tortillas and snacks to cereals and other prepared foods.
The deal also marks the end of Bunge’s 45-year presence in the North American corn milling market. Bunge entered the segment in 1979 through the acquisition of Lauhoff Grain Co. in Illinois.
In recent years, however, the company has been realigning its strategy to focus more tightly on its global agribusiness and food ingredients platform, including oilseed processing, plant-based oils, and the integration of its pending acquisition of Viterra.
Julio Garros, Co-President of Agribusiness at Bunge, explained the company’s decision. “We carefully considered how this regional business fits with our long-term plans and made the strategic decision to focus on other areas of our core business that are more strongly connected to our global value chains.”
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