Anchor Ingredients
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersFargo, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Anchor Ingredients does
Anchor Ingredients is a Fargo, North Dakota-based B2B specialty ingredient supplier founded in 2015 that sources, processes, and distributes ingredients to pet food and human food manufacturers across North America. The company operates 10 processing and manufacturing facilities in 5 U.S. states supported by 4 sales offices, and connects to a network of 2,500+ growers primarily through its AnchorCONNECT platform. Revenue is generated by selling specialty and commodity ingredients, providing custom blending and processing services, distribution, and co-manufacturing freeze-dried proteins through the North Freeze Dry joint venture with Barrett Petfood Innovations.
The company's technical and product differentiation rests on a stack of proprietary digital platforms: AnchorTRACE for supply chain traceability, AnchorREGEN for regenerative agriculture programming, AnchorCARBON for carbon analytics, and AnchorCONNECT as the grower-relationship layer. These are bundled with a credential stack including MSC Chain of Custody, SQF, USDA Organic, HACCP, Kosher, and Canada Organic certifications, positioning the company to meet sustainability and provenance requirements of large branded customers.
Go-to-market is enterprise B2B, with named partnerships including Mars Pet Nutrition and positioning around "the world's largest pet food brands." The business has scaled rapidly, growing headcount from a sub-100 baseline to 300+ employees by 2025–2026, opening a $40 million Richmond, Indiana facility in October 2024, acquiring the Hatton, North Dakota grain handling facility in August 2023, and entering new ingredient categories such as functional mushrooms via a 2026 partnership with M2 Ingredients. Leadership is founder-led with co-founder and CEO Al Yablonski, COO and co-founder Seth Novak, and CFO Michael McNay, supported by a broader operations and commercial team spanning the multi-site network.
Anchor Ingredients firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Anchor Ingredients
- Legal name
- Anchor Ingredients Co., LLC
- Website
- https://anchoringredients.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Anchor Ingredients industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Food Ingredients
- NAICS
- Animal Food Manufacturing (31111), Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing (311412), Other Food Manufacturing (3119)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Custom & Private-Label Pet Food Manufacturing (AFADAFAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Manufacturing, Private Label & Co-Manufacturing for Animal Diets (HLAMAHAO), Frozen & Raw Pet Food (incl. freeze-dried) (CRADAFAD), Meat, Poultry & Seafood Wholesale (AFAIABAF), Alternative Protein & Sustainable Pet Food (insect/plant/cell-based) (CRADAFAI)
Keywords
Where Anchor Ingredients is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fargo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices14 records
Markets served
Anchor Ingredients business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Ingredient Sales: Anchor Ingredients generates revenue through the sale of specialty ingredients including grains, pulses, animal proteins, marine proteins, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and specialty ingredients to food and pet food manufacturers. The company sources ingredients from its network of 2,500+ growers and global suppliers, processes them at company-owned facilities, and distributes them to customers.
- Freeze-Dry Co-Manufacturing: Through North Freeze Dry joint venture with Barrett Petfood Innovations, the company offers freeze-drying co-manufacturing services including recipe development, processing, and packaging of freeze-dried pet foods and treats.
- Distribution Services: The company provides distribution and logistics services, leveraging its coast-to-coast warehouse network and strategic partnerships with trucking companies to deliver ingredients just-in-time to customers.
- Custom Blending: Custom dry ingredient blending services allowing customers to create proprietary ingredient blends to exact specifications, including animal proteins, vitamins, nutrients, grains, and fibers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Contract-based pricing for grain origination |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Anchor Ingredients product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Anchor Ingredients is a B2B specialty ingredient supplier that sources, processes, and distributes a diverse portfolio of conventional and organic ingredients (grains, pulses, animal and marine proteins, plant proteins, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and specialty ingredients) to pet food and human food manufacturers. The company operates 10 processing and manufacturing facilities across the Midwest and pairs its ingredient supply with proprietary traceability (AnchorTRACE), sustainability (AnchorREGEN, AnchorCARBON), and customer portal (AnchorCONNECT) platforms, plus value-added services including processing, blending, logistics, and freeze-dry co-manufacturing through its North Freeze Dry joint venture.
Product overview
Anchor Ingredients is a B2B specialty ingredient supplier offering a comprehensive portfolio of food and pet food ingredients across eight categories: Grains & Pulses, Animal & Marine Proteins, Proteins Starches & Fibers, Nuts & Seeds, Fruits & Vegetables, and Specialty Ingredients. The company differentiates through proprietary technology platforms and value-added services. AnchorTRACE provides supply chain traceability from farm to food. AnchorREGEN enables sourcing from regenerative agriculture growers with verified practices. AnchorCARBON delivers carbon footprint analytics with third-party validation. AnchorCONNECT is a customer portal for real-time order management and document access. The company also operates North Freeze Dry, a freeze-drying co-manufacturing facility for premium pet food production. Services span processing, logistics/supply chain management, blending, and farm-level grower connections across a network of over 2,500 growers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- North Freeze Dry: A freeze-drying co-manufacturing facility for pet food and treats, operated as a joint venture with Barrett Petfood Innovations in Little Falls, MN.
- AnchorTRACE
- AnchorREGEN
- AnchorCARBON
Products and services
- AnchorTRACE Proprietary supply chain traceability platform that tracks ingredients from farm field to final destination, collecting data directly from growers, logistics information, and processing details to provide end-to-end visibility into ingredient journeys. Sold as part of the ingredient sourcing offering to pet food and food brands seeking supply chain transparency.
- AnchorREGEN Regenerative agriculture program that connects brands with trusted growers practicing cover cropping, elimination of glyphosate, minimal soil disturbance, and diverse crop rotations, with practices verified through remote-sensing technologies. Used by brands sourcing regeneratively farmed ingredients.
- AnchorCARBON Carbon analytics program providing insights into carbon reductions and removals from growers, with third-party validation of practices and soil carbon modeling for emissions calculations. Enables brand customers to substantiate Scope 3 emissions claims.
- AnchorCONNECT Customer portal providing real-time access to order history, shipments, returns, open contracts, account summaries, certificates of analysis, bills of lading, certification documentation, and AnchorTRACE reports. Sold to manufacturer customers managing ongoing ingredient procurement.
- North Freeze Dry Freeze-drying co-manufacturing facility operated as a joint venture with Barrett Petfood Innovations, providing freeze-dried pet food and treat production with formula control, batch control, grinding, emulsification, blending, and automated freeze-drying. Serves premium pet food brands.
- Cover Crop Program Cover crop seed program offering certified seeds including Rymin Rye, Hazlet Rye, Buckwheat, Robust Barley, Jerry Oats, and various peas and millets, developed in collaboration with the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies. Offered to growers in the farm-level partner network.
- Ingredient Processing Services Full-service ingredient processing including cleaning, sifting, organics, pearling, packaging, cracking, splitting, grinding, mixing, blending, sizing, color sorting, pelleting, milling, re-work, fractionation, and emulsifying. Available to pet food and food manufacturers.
- Logistics & Supply Chain Management Supply chain management with real-time tracking, just-in-time delivery, strategic partnerships with trucking companies, and a coast-to-coast warehouse network with port city locations. Sold to manufacturer customers alongside ingredient purchases.
- Blending Services Custom dry ingredient blending combining animal proteins, vitamins, nutrients, grains, and fibers to exact specifications with an automated batching system. Sold to pet food and food manufacturers seeking proprietary ingredient blends.
- Farm-Level Connection Direct contracting program with over 2,500 grower partners in the Upper Midwest ensuring sustainable, traceable supply of specialty crops; offers competitive pricing, flexible contracts, per-bushel premiums, deferred delivery, and on-farm pick-up. Sold to grower suppliers of specialty crops.
- Grains & Pulses Specialty grains (Amaranth, Barley, Buckwheat, Corn, Millet, Oats, Quinoa, Rice, Rye, Sorghum, Spelt, Teff, Wheat) and pulses (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Faba Beans, Kidney Beans, Lentils, Lima Beans, Peas, Navy Beans, Pinto Beans, Soybeans). Sold to pet food and food manufacturers.
- Animal & Marine Proteins Meats (Duck, Beef, Chicken, Pork, Turkey, Lamb, Goat, Venison, Rabbit, Quail, Pheasant, Kangaroo, Wild Boar, Offal) and marine proteins (Anchovy, Krill, Sardine, Herring, Pollock, Squid, Trout, Crab, Blue Whiting). MSC Chain of Custody certification at the Waldo, WI facility. Sold to pet food manufacturers.
- Proteins, Starches & Fibers
- Nuts & Seeds Nuts (Almonds, Cashews, Hazelnuts, Macadamia, Peanuts, Pecans, Pistachios, Pine Nuts, Walnuts) and seeds (Canola, Chia, Flaxseed, Hemp, Poppy, Safflower, Sesame, Sunflower). Sold to pet food and food manufacturers.
- Fruits & Vegetables Dried fruits (Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blueberries, Cherries, Cranberries, Dates, Figs, Mango, Peaches, Pineapple, Plums, Raisins) and vegetables (Artichoke, Beets, Broccoli, Carrots, Kale, Onions, Pumpkin, Spinach, Sweet Potato, Tomato). Sold to pet food and food manufacturers.
- Specialty Ingredients Specialty ingredients including herbs and spices (Anise, Dill, Garlic, Ginger, Rosemary, Sage, Turmeric) and snack items (Fried Green Peas, Corn Nuggets, Edamame, Rice Crackers, Sesame Sticks). Sold to pet food and food manufacturers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Supply chain traceability from farm to finished product
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Anchor Ingredients
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Anchor Ingredients technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Anchor Ingredients partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- M2 IngredientscoreStrategic partnership for distributing functional mushroom ingredients (clinically studied, full spectrum mushroom powders and extracts) to pet food manufacturers across North America. Anchor leverages its extensive distribution network to expand access to functional mushroom solutions for pet food, treats, and supplements, targeting the growing demand for functional pet nutrition.
- Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)coreGlobal nonprofit organization setting rigorous standards for sustainable fishing practices and protecting marine ecosystems. Anchor's Waldo, Wisconsin protein processing facility achieved MSC Chain of Custody certification, enabling processing of MSC-certified marine proteins including Cod, Salmon, Whitefish, and Menhaden with full supply chain traceability.
- Barrett Petfood InnovationscoreJoint venture to build state-of-the-art freeze-drying manufacturing facility (North Freeze Dry) adjacent to Barrett's new 165,000 sq. ft. co-manufacturing extrusion plant in Little Falls, MN. Creates the industry's first centralized pet food manufacturing site for premium brands. Barrett manages onsite operations while Anchor manages sourcing, back-office administration, and collaborates on sales.
- Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition (LoCT)coreCollaboration between major global brands and their suppliers to reduce carbon emissions. Anchor has earned GHG Scope 1, 2, and 3 Footprint Badges through LoCT's training program, aligned with GHG Protocol and Science-Based Targets Initiative standards.
- Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC)coreNonprofit organization in the pet industry helping companies drive business performance through social and environmental impact. PSC provides education, inspiration, and implementation support for Anchor's sustainability program.
- Understanding AgminorPartner for soil health education and regenerative agriculture practices. Understanding Ag representatives (Rodney Saunders and Brian Dougherty) participated in Anchor's Soil Health Field Day with regional growers, focusing on Six Principles of Soil Health.
- NUTRO Greater GroundminorPartner in soil health initiatives and regenerative agriculture education. Collaborated with Anchor and Mars Pet Nutrition teams for field day event focused on soil health principles.
- Mars Pet NutritioncoreMajor pet food brand collaborating with Anchor on regenerative agriculture and soil health initiatives. Mars Pet Nutrition representative Adam Hardie participated in Regrow Agriculture Resilience Summit panel alongside Anchor CEO Al Yablonski.
- Richmond Redevelopment CommissionminorLocal partnership supporting Anchor's facility investment in Richmond, Indiana through rail access and economic development coordination.
- Norfolk Southern RailwaycoreRail logistics partner ensuring seamless integration of rail operations for Anchor's Richmond facility with Monday through Friday service from the Norfolk Southern mainline railway.
- Kiss The GroundminorProduced Stories of Regeneration video showcasing Anchor grower partners Chris Walberg and Tyler Zimmerman who are leading regenerative soil health practices through polycropping, cattle integration, and cover crops.
- Association of Official Seed Certifying AgenciesminorCollaborated to develop quality assurance program ensuring cover crop seeds consistently meet and exceed industry benchmarks for planting confidence.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Anchor Ingredients competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Darling Ingredients: Global producer of sustainable specialty ingredients from bioeconomy by-products, with significant pet food and animal nutrition exposure. Comparable to Anchor in protein and specialty ingredient supply for pet food manufacturers, with stronger rendering scale.
- Scoular: US-based, privately held agricultural ingredient supplier with a strong pet food and specialty grain/protein business. Highly comparable to Anchor in customer base, B2B ingredient focus, and mid-market Midwest operating footprint.
- Symrise Diana Pet Food: Diana Pet Food is a global leader in palatability and functional ingredients for pet food. Comparable as a specialty ingredient supplier serving pet food manufacturers, overlapping with Anchor on proteins, flavors, and sustainability-driven solutions.
- Balchem Corporation: Specialty ingredient manufacturer serving animal nutrition and human food markets, with mineral and nutrient premix capabilities. Comparable in supplying value-added ingredients to pet food and food manufacturers under branded and private-label models.
Broad incumbents
- Ingredient Solutions (Ingredion): Global ingredient solutions provider serving food, beverage, and animal nutrition customers. Comparable as a broad-line ingredient supplier; competes with Anchor in plant proteins, starches, and specialty ingredients for food and pet food manufacturers.
- Cargill Animal Nutrition: One of the largest global agricultural commodity and ingredient companies, with significant pet food and animal feed exposure. Comparable in B2B ingredient supply to pet food manufacturers, though at vastly greater scale and breadth.
- ADM (Archer Daniels Midland): Global food processing and ingredient supplier with extensive pet food and human food ingredient portfolios. Comparable as a broad-line ingredient supplier across proteins, grains, and specialty ingredients for food and pet food manufacturers.
- Kerry Group: Global taste and nutrition company serving food, beverage, and pet food manufacturers. Comparable to Anchor in supplying flavor, functional, and specialty ingredients to branded manufacturers, including pet food.
- Elanco Animal Health: Major animal health company with pet food nutrition and therapeutic diet exposure. Comparable in serving pet food and companion animal nutrition manufacturers, though with a stronger pharmaceutical/health orientation than Anchor.
Others
- Phibro Animal Health: Animal health and nutrition company providing specialty ingredients and nutritional additives for livestock and companion animals. Adjacent to Anchor's pet food ingredient business, focused more on nutritional additives than commodity or specialty food ingredients.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Anchor Ingredients social profiles
Digital presenceAnchor Ingredients compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Anchor Ingredients financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Anchor Ingredients leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Anchor Ingredients subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Anchor Ingredients funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Anchor Ingredients M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Anchor Ingredients
What does Anchor Ingredients do?
Anchor Ingredients is a B2B specialty ingredient supplier that sources, processes, and distributes a diverse portfolio of conventional and organic ingredients (grains, pulses, animal and marine proteins, plant proteins, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and specialty ingredients) to pet food and human food manufacturers. The company operates 10 processing and manufacturing facilities across the Midwest and pairs its ingredient supply with proprietary traceability (AnchorTRACE), sustainability (AnchorREGEN, AnchorCARBON), and customer portal (AnchorCONNECT) platforms, plus value-added services including processing, blending, logistics, and freeze-dry co-manufacturing through its North Freeze Dry joint venture.
Is Anchor Ingredients a public or private company?
Anchor Ingredients is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Anchor Ingredients founded?
Anchor Ingredients was founded in 2015. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Anchor Ingredients based?
Anchor Ingredients is headquartered in Fargo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Anchor Ingredients make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ingredient Sales are the primary driver. The others are freeze-Dry Co-Manufacturing, distribution Services and custom Blending.
Who are Anchor Ingredients's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Darling Ingredients, Scoular, Symrise Diana Pet Food and Balchem Corporation. Broad incumbents are Ingredient Solutions (Ingredion), Cargill Animal Nutrition, ADM (Archer Daniels Midland), Kerry Group and Elanco Animal Health. Phibro Animal Health is listed as an others.
Does Anchor Ingredients have an API?
No public API is recorded for Anchor Ingredients.
What industry is Anchor Ingredients in?
Anchor Ingredients's product category is Specialty Food Ingredients. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFADAFAO, Custom & Private-Label Pet Food Manufacturing, with a secondary code of HLAMAHAO, Manufacturing, Private Label & Co-Manufacturing for Animal Diets. Its NAICS code is 31111 and its SIC code is 2000.