Richardson to acquire 8th Avenue pasta business from Post Holdings in US$375M deal
The acquisition includes three production facilities located in Carrington, North Dakota; New Hope, Minnesota; and Winchester, Virginia, along with the well-known Ronzoni retail pasta brand.
USA – Richardson (US) Holdings Ltd., the American arm of Canadian agribusiness giant Richardson International, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire the pasta division of 8th Avenue Food & Provisions Inc. from Post Holdings Inc., which had acquired 8th Avenue only two months ago.
The deal, valued at US$375 million in cash plus approximately US$80 million in leaseback liabilities, marks a strategic move to deepen Richardson’s footprint in the U.S. food and ingredients market.
The acquisition includes three production facilities located in Carrington, North Dakota; New Hope, Minnesota; and Winchester, Virginia, along with the well-known Ronzoni retail pasta brand.
Approximately 500 employees from 8th Avenue will transition to Richardson following the transaction, which is expected to close in Post’s fiscal Q1 2026, ending December 31.
Richardson International, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a vertically integrated processor and manufacturer of oats, durum, and canola-based products.
The company sees this acquisition as a natural extension of its core strength in durum wheat handling and milling.
By integrating further down the value chain into pasta production, Richardson aims to connect its grain origination capabilities with finished food products, enhancing its value proposition across retail and foodservice channels.
Post Holdings, which only recently acquired full ownership of 8th Avenue in July 2025 for US$880 million, will retain the company’s nut butter, fruit and nut, and granola businesses.
These segments will be integrated into Post Consumer Brands, which includes household names like Honey Bunches of Oats and Peter Pan peanut butter.
The sale also coincides with Post’s announcement of a new US$500 million share repurchase program, signalling a strategic shift in the company’s portfolio focus and capital allocation.
8th Avenue Food & Provisions was established in 2018 as a joint venture between Post Holdings and Thomas H. Lee Partners, consolidating Post’s private label operations across nut butter, pasta, granola, and snack categories.
The company expanded its production capabilities in 2019 by acquiring a peanut butter plant in Illinois from Conagra Brands.
A year later, Post Holdings purchased the Peter Pan peanut butter brand from Conagra, continuing its manufacture at the same facility.
In 2021, 8th Avenue further expanded its portfolio by acquiring the Ronzoni pasta brand from Riviana Foods for US$95 million, reinforcing its position in the packaged food sector.
For Richardson, the move underscores its ambition to grow beyond commodity processing into branded consumer goods, leveraging its agricultural expertise to meet evolving market demands for high-quality, value-added food products.
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