Healthy Food Ingredients

What Healthy Food Ingredients does

Healthy Food Ingredients (HFI) is a privately-held, Minnesota-domiciled LLC headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota, that supplies non-GMO, organic, certified transitional, gluten-free, and identity-preserved specialty food ingredients to food and beverage manufacturers. The company operates a vertically integrated, four-facility processing footprint across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota, including a dedicated allergen-free specialty mill, with capabilities spanning grain milling and blending, cleaning and cracking, microbial reduction, flax milling, and consumer-ready packing. HFI's ingredient catalog of 200+ SKUs covers ancient grains, cereal grains, flax, expeller-pressed oils, pulses, soybeans, and proprietary purple corn ingredients, supported by 7,000+ contracted transitional-organic acres.

HFI's competitive differentiation rests on two proprietary technology and IP assets: IntegriPure, a chemical-free microbial reduction process with validated 5-log pathogen reduction using a rotation-based dry saturated steam and vacuum-cooling system; and Suntava Purple Corn, a proprietary, high-anthocyanin purple corn ingredient line developed from Peruvian non-GMO seed stock. The company was the first ingredient supplier and processor to achieve Certified Transitional certification (QAI, 2016), and maintains Non-GMO Project Verification, SMETA ethical trade audits, NASC certification, and Kosher/Organic/Gluten-Free credentials across all owned facilities. The brand portfolio comprises four retained brands: SK Food International, Hesco/Dakota Organic Products, Suntava, and Heartland Flax (acquired 2019).

HFI generates revenue primarily through B2B ingredient sales via a field sales force to enterprise food and beverage manufacturers at typical minimum order quantities of 4,000 lbs, supplemented by an e-commerce channel (HFI Marketplace, launched 2019) serving startups, R&D professionals, and SMBs with single-unit entry pricing, an international export channel serving Southeast Asia, and value-added processing services including microbial reduction, gluten-free specialty milling, and private-label/white-label packing (notably for hemp-derived cannabinoid products via the 2020 KND Labs partnership). Customer concentration includes named accounts such as Trader Joe's, Kashi, and Firebird Artisan Mills, with documented enterprise relationships spanning nearly two decades, and the company pursues new verticals (nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, hemp-derived cannabinoids, regenerative agriculture via Kernza perennial grain processing). Leadership includes Brad Hennrich as CEO and President, Jay Johnson as COO, Jennifer Tesch as CMO, Jim Hamel as CFO, and a functional leadership team with prior tenures at Pillsbury, Haagen-Dazs, ConAgra Mills, Ardent Mills, Tyson Foods, and Hormel Foods.

Name

Healthy Food Ingredients

Legal name

Healthy Food Ingredients, LLC

Website

https://hfifamily.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Healthy Food Ingredients is a privately-held, vertically integrated specialty ingredient supplier serving food and beverage manufacturers with non-GMO, organic, certified transitional, gluten-free, and identity-preserved grains, pulses, flax, oils, and proprietary purple corn ingredients across four processing facilities in the upper Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Food Ingredients

NAICS

Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Gluten-Free & Specialty Grain-Based Foods Manufacturing (GF pasta/cereals, ancient grains) (AFAKABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Canned Beans, Legumes & Pulses Manufacturing (AFAKACAC)

Keywords

• Specialty food ingredients
• Non-GMO ingredients
• Organic ingredients supplier
• Gluten-free milling
• Clean label processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Fargo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ingredient Sales: HFI generates revenue through the sale of specialty food ingredients including ancient grains, cereal grains, flax, oils, pulses, soybeans, and proprietary Suntava Purple Corn ingredients. Products are sold in various forms including whole, flour, meal, grits, flakes, and micro-reduced formats.
2. HFI Marketplace E-commerce: Online sales platform offering wholesale quantities from single units up to 4,000 lbs of select ingredient portfolio for startups, product developers, R&D professionals, chefs, restaurants, and institutions.
3. Private Label/White Label Products: HFI offers private label or white label packing for products like Suntava Purple Soft Chews with THC-free hemp cannabinoid broad spectrum distillate.
4. Value-Added Processing Services: Fees for processing services including cleaning, cracking, milling, blending, microbial reduction (IntegriPure), gluten-free specialty milling, and retail packing capabilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Healthy Food Ingredients supplies non-GMO, organic, certified transitional, gluten-free, and identity preserved specialty food ingredients — including ancient grains, cereal grains, flax, expeller oils, pulses, soybeans, and proprietary Suntava Purple Corn — to food, beverage, pet food, and nutraceutical manufacturers. HFI operates vertically integrated cleaning, cracking, milling, blending, gluten-free specialty milling, and consumer-ready packing facilities in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota, complemented by its proprietary IntegriPure chemical-free microbial reduction process for validated 5-log food safety. The company sells primarily through direct B2B channels with an HFI Marketplace e-commerce storefront serving smaller buyers and startups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Suntava Purple Corn™: Proprietary purple corn ingredient brand with high anthocyanin content, used as natural color and health ingredient in food and beverage applications
• IntegriPure®
• HFI Marketplace™
• AncientGrisps®
• CO2 True-IQ

Products and services

• Ancient Grains Non-GMO, organic, gluten-free, and identity preserved ancient grain ingredients available in whole, flour, meal, grits, and flake formats for food manufacturers.
• Cereal Grains Non-GMO and organic cereal grain ingredients (wheat, barley, sorghum, rye, oats) for food manufacturers, processed in HFI's South Dakota facility.
• Flax ingredients (whole and milled flaxseed) Whole, milled, micro-reduced, ready-to-eat, and retail-packed flaxseed ingredients supporting keto, gluten-free, better-for-you, clean label, and whole grain product lines.
• Expeller Oils Expeller-pressed oils from flax, soybeans, and purple corn for food, supplement, and nutraceutical applications.
• Pulses & Soybeans Dry edible beans, pulses, and food-grade soybeans (including non-GMO and identity preserved varieties) for food manufacturers and export markets.
• Suntava Purple Corn and Suntava Purple Corn Extract Powder Proprietary purple corn ingredients (whole, milled, extract powder) developed from Peruvian non-GMO seeds with high anthocyanin content for natural color, antioxidant, and clean-label food and beverage applications.
• IntegriPure Microbial Reduction Proprietary chemical-free microbial reduction service using a rotation-based dry saturated steam pasteurization system followed by vacuum cooling, delivering a validated 5-log reduction while protecting ingredient integrity and shelf life.
• Grain Milling & Blending Contract grain milling and blending services for organic, non-GMO, and identity preserved ingredients at HFI's processing facilities.
• Cleaning & Cracking Cleaning, cracking, and seed preparation services across dry edible beans, pulses, flax, sorghum, buckwheat, and purple corn.
• Gluten-free Specialty Mill Dedicated allergen-free gluten-free milling service providing complete supply chain traceability for clean-label gluten-free ingredients.
• Flax Milling Dedicated flax milling and processing capabilities supporting whole, milled, micro-reduced, ready-to-eat, and retail-packed flax formats.
• Consumer-ready Products (retail packing and private/white label) Retail packing and private label/white label manufacturing of finished consumer products including soft chews with THC-free hemp cannabinoid broad spectrum distillate.
• HFI Marketplace (e-commerce platform) Online storefront offering wholesale quantities of specialty ingredients (single units up to 4,000 lbs) for startups, product developers, R&D professionals, chefs, restaurants, and institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5-log reduction in microorganisms validated through IntegriPure process
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable, supporting and innovative.

• KND LabscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2020Strategic supply partnership for hemp-derived cannabinoids including CBD, CBG, and CBN. KND provides clean label extraction, transparent third-party testing, and grower-direct supply assurance. Partnership offers cGMP certifications, ISO 9001, API certification, NASC approval, and Kosher certification. Combined quality program provides enhanced pesticide testing beyond typical hemp industry standards. HFI offers Superior Water Miscible options for beverage applications.
• Firebird Artisan MillsnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirebird launched Suntava Purple Corn 50% Protein Crisp product using HFI ingredients. Represents co-development of innovative gluten-free snack ingredients combining Suntava Purple Corn with plant-based protein.
• KashicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHFI supplied Certified Transitional hard red winter wheat for Kashi's first consumer product with transitional ingredients. HFI was first ingredient supplier to achieve Certified Transitional certification to support Kashi's commitment to promoting organic acreage.
• Purely PinolenotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPurely Pinole uses Suntava Purple Corn for their product line. HFI contracted fourth-generation Nebraska organic farmers to grow 40 acres of purple corn for Purely Pinole.
• USDA/American Soybean Association WISHH ProgramnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership facilitated shipment of 14 metric tons of U.S. food-grade soybeans to Myanmar and Cambodia for full-scale production trials. Supported by USDA Quality Samples Program and North Dakota Soybean Council.
• Trader Joe'snotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrader Joe's launched Organic Purple Maize Flakes cereal using Suntava Purple Corn ingredients from HFI.
• Carbon Disclosure ProjectsupportingOthersHFI is a member of CDP and committed to annual reporting of water and energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and transportation metrics from HFI facilities.
• SedexsupportingOthersHFI is a Sedex member and committed to conducting SMETA ethical trade audits at all facilities.
• Kernza Perennial Grain PartnershipinnovativeStrategic or Co-development PartnerHFI is the first North American commercial processor of Kernza perennial grain, supporting regenerative agriculture and customer's sustainability story.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ardent Mills: Ardent Mills is a major North American flour-milling and grain-ingredient company with specialty and organic product lines. It directly competes with HFI in specialty and organic grain milling, and is a relevant talent source (HFI's VP of Domestic Business Development previously led specialty sales at Ardent Mills).
• Cargill: Cargill is one of the largest global food ingredient and agricultural commodity companies with a sizable specialty/clean-label ingredient division. It competes with HFI across grains, oils, and specialty ingredients but at vastly greater scale and breadth across commodity and specialty markets.
• Ingredion: Ingredion is a global ingredient solutions provider specializing in plant-based sweeteners, starches, and specialty food ingredients. It overlaps with HFI in clean-label, specialty, and texturizing ingredient categories serving food and beverage manufacturers.
• Hain Celestial Group: Hain Celestial is a multi-brand natural and organic foods company (including grains, snacks, and plant-based). While more CPG-facing, it is comparable to HFI as a natural/specialty food platform with overlapping customer bases and ingredient requirements.
• ADM (Archer Daniels Midland): ADM is a global food ingredient and agricultural processor with a growing specialty and plant-based ingredient portfolio (including Ancient Grains and Sovita brands). It overlaps with HFI across grain, oil, and specialty ingredient supply to food manufacturers, with substantially greater scale.

Direct peers

• Bob's Red Mill: Bob's Red Mill is a specialty grain, legume, and ancient-grain milling company selling whole grains, flours, and gluten-free ingredients to retail and foodservice. Its product portfolio, milling capabilities, and emphasis on whole/ancient grains closely mirror HFI's cereal grain, flax, and gluten-free specialty mill offerings.
• SunOpta: SunOpta is a plant-based, organic, and specialty food ingredient manufacturer sourcing fruits, grains, and seeds for B2B customers globally. It directly competes with HFI across organic, non-GMO, and identity-preserved ingredient categories, including grain processing and clean-label value-added ingredients.
• Hodgson Mill: Hodgson Mill is a specialty grain miller producing whole grain flours, baking ingredients, and gluten-free products. Its milling and blending capabilities and multi-format product range (flour, meal, flakes) directly overlap with HFI's grain milling and blending business.
• Grain Millers: Grain Millers is a specialty grain and oat processor producing organic and conventional milled ingredients for food manufacturers. Its focus on contract processing, identity-preserved grains, and organic certification is directly comparable to HFI's vertically integrated specialty grain model.

Emerging players

• Andean Naturals: Andean Naturals is a specialty ingredient company focused on quinoa and other ancient grains sourced from Latin America. It overlaps with HFI in the specialty/ancient grains ingredient category, though it operates at a smaller scale and concentrates on different commodity crops.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLDPQlEKU3-Q3mRdr_IN7jwfRuRjKmJ1RW
• Xx.com/growwithushfi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Healthy Food Ingredients