Press Releases

SK Food International Announces Partnership

FARGO, ND (March 19, 2015). Healthy Food Ingredients, LLC, the parent company of SK Food International (www.skfood.comM), announced it has merged SK Food with Hesco/Dakota Organic Products (www.hesco-inc.com). The merger was effective on December 24, 2014.

Healthy Food Ingredients, LLC (HFI) is a fast-growing, leading specialty ingredient company that provides non-GMO, organic, gluten free, and identity preserved ingredients to customers in the food manufacturing and food service industries.

In October 2013, HFI recapitalized SK Food International which is located in Fargo, North Dakota. Founded in 1990 by David and Beverly Skyberg, SK Food is a Premium Quality Ingredient solutions provider of identity preserved, non-GMO and organic grains, seeds, soybeans, pulses, expeller oils and flours/flakes. SK Food remains a business with family ownership, with David Skyberg serving as an owner and board member, along with second-generation owners Jennifer Tesch and Aaron Skyberg.

David Skyberg notes "we are excited about our association with HFI, and now Hesco, which lends to new opportunities for growth under the Kaizen concept of continuous improvement, and a shared commitment to success in our supplier and customer relationships."

Hesco/Dakota Organic Products is a South Dakota-based specialty ingredients company that provides conventional and organic wheat, durum, barley, rye, flax, ancient grains and more in whole and milled form. Hesco offers a variety of multi-grain whole bakery blends, cereal and prepared food blends as well as pet food blends.

"We are excited to join the HFI team with SK Food and look forward to better serving our customers and the industry. As a result of the merger, both Hesco and SK Food have expanded what we’re now able to offer our existing domestic and international customers. In addition to reaching new areas of the industry, we will be able to better provide our customers the supply assurance required in today’s competitive specialty grains market through our vast grower network," commented Brad Hennrich, president of Hesco. Hennrich continues to maintain ownership in Hesco.

Both SK Food and Hesco are certified organic by QAI, Kosher through Orthodox Union and Non-GMO Project Verified. SK Food is in the process of Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification, with planned completion for June 2015, while Hesco currently holds "A" grades for both its South Dakota and Nebraska facilities through British Retail Consortium (BRC) audits. Both SQF and BRC are recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).

"We are pleased to respond to the demand for high quality non-GMO and organic products with the partnership of HFI, SK Food and Hesco," notes Brad Hover, CEO of HFI. Hover adds "with the existing product offerings of both SK Food and Hesco, it is a natural fit to work together to provide value-added ingredients, as each company nicely complements the other with its product offerings. HFI is backed by Horizon Holdings, LLC, a private investment firm that has been building long-term successful partnerships for more than 25 years. "With the support of Horizon Holdings, we will have much opportunity for future growth and expansion for HFI as we look forward to adding innovative, value-added specialty ingredient companies to our offering," commented Hover.

Visit SK Food at the upcoming Snaxpo trade show in Kissimmee, Florida, March 27-31; IFT Food Expo in Chicago, Illinois, July 12-14 and Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore, Maryland, September 16-19. Visit Hesco at IFT Food Expo; Pet Food Forum in Kansas City, Missouri, April 27-30; Sosland Purchasing Seminar in Kansas City, Missouri, May 31 – June 2; Natural Products Expo East and the AACC in Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 18 – 21.

Article taken from: SK Foods