The Teff

What The Teff does

The Teff Company, operating as Maskal Teff, is a vertically integrated US producer and supplier of teff grain and teff flour, headquartered and milling in Boise, Idaho (with a listed mailing address in Caldwell). Founded in 1986 by Wayne and Elisabeth Carlson after Wayne's exposure to teff cultivation in Ethiopia in the 1970s, the company controls the full value chain from owned seedstock sourced originally from the Washington State University USDA seed bank, through contracted grower relationships across Idaho, California, Nevada, Washington, Arizona, and Oregon, to daily fresh milling at a teff-only, dedicated gluten-free facility in Boise. Its core product portfolio consists of teff flour and whole teff grain in both brown and ivory varieties, offered as conventional and USDA-certified organic SKUs in 14oz multi-packs and 25lb bags, plus discovery sample packs and branded merchandise.

The business operates a dual-channel go-to-market. Direct-to-consumer sales flow through a Shopify-powered storefront (teffco.com) with nationwide US shipping via UPS for small orders and regional freight for bulk, priced on a unit basis ranging from $25 for a sample pack to $105 for a 25lb bag of organic flour. Wholesale revenue is generated through a separate program supplying Ethiopian and Eritrean retailers, gluten-free bakeries, food manufacturers, and ingredient distributors, with bulk offerings extending to 2000lb totes on a contact-for-quote basis. The company is privately held, family-owned and operated by the Carlson family, with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or subsidiaries. Customer concentration is distributed across diaspora, gluten-free, and health-conscious consumer segments plus wholesale partners. The company carries Non-GMO Project Verified, OK Kosher, USDA Organic, and third-party gluten-free certifications (each lot tested at 5 ppm or less). Operations are US-only; Canada, Mexico, Europe, and other international markets are explicitly out of scope.

Name

The Teff

Legal name

The Teff Company

Website

https://teffco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Teff Company (Maskal Teff) is a family-owned, vertically integrated US producer of teff grain and teff flour, founded in 1986 in Boise, Idaho. It serves Ethiopian and Eritrean diaspora, gluten-free consumers, health-conscious home cooks, and wholesale bakeries, food manufacturers, and ingredient distributors through DTC e-commerce and B2B channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Grain Milling and Ancient Grain Products

NAICS

Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Grain Mill Products (2040), Food And Kindred Products (2000), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)

akta.pro primary industry

Flour & Milling Products Manufacturing (wheat, corn, rice, specialty flours) (AFAKABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Couscous, Bulgur & Other Processed Grain Foods Manufacturing (AFAKABAJ)

Keywords

• Teff grain milling
• Gluten-free flour production
• Ancient grain supply
• Organic teff products
• Specialty grain wholesale

Headquarters

HQ city

Caldwell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Product Sales: Consumer-facing online store selling teff flour and grain products directly to individuals. Products include conventional and organic varieties in brown and ivory teff, available in 14oz packs and 25lb bags. Free US shipping noted for small pack orders.
2. Wholesale/B2B Product Sales: B2B sales to retailers, bakeries, food manufacturers, and ingredient distributors. Wholesale offerings include conventional teff flour (14oz retail packs, 25lb bags), organic teff flour, conventional teff grain (2000lb totes), and organic teff grain. Bulk orders ship via regional freight carriers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Teff Company (Maskal Teff) manufactures and supplies teff flour and whole teff grain, available in conventional and organic varieties and in brown and ivory forms. The company is vertically integrated, managing its own seedstock and contracted grower relationships across the Western US, and milling flour fresh daily in a single dedicated gluten-free facility in Boise, Idaho. Products are sold nationwide through both direct-to-consumer e-commerce and a wholesale program targeting bakeries, food manufacturers, ingredient distributors, and Ethiopian/Eritrean markets.

Product overview

Maskal Teff (The Teff Company) is a vertically integrated teff producer offering a focused portfolio of teff-based food products. The core offerings consist of Teff Flour and Teff Grain, each available in conventional and organic varieties, and in brown (earthy/nutty) and ivory (subtle/slightly sweet) varieties. Product sizes include 14 oz multi-packs for retail consumers and 25 lb bags for bulk/wholesale buyers. The company also offers Teff Sample Packs and Organic Teff Sample Packs for discovery purposes, and branded merchandise (Lion Shirt). All products are 100% whole grain, naturally gluten-free, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Kosher certified. The company operates from Boise, Idaho, where it manages seedstock, contracts with Western US growers, and mills flour fresh daily.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Teff Flour (Conventional) Naturally gluten-free teff flour milled fresh daily in Boise, ID, in brown (earthy/nutty) and ivory (subtle/slightly sweet) varieties; intended for traditional injera, gluten-free baking, and everyday baked goods. Available in 14 oz multipacks and 25 lb bags.
• Teff Grain (Conventional) Whole grain teff sold as grain for use in porridge, grain bowls, and everyday meals; cooks like quinoa or rice and is naturally gluten-free. Available in 14 oz multipacks and 25 lb bags, plus 2000 lb totes for wholesale.
• Organic Teff Flour USDA Organic certified teff flour milled from 100% organic whole teff grain grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers; available in brown and ivory varieties in 14 oz multipacks and 25 lb bags.
• Organic Teff Grain USDA Organic certified whole grain teff grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers; packaged in 14 oz multipacks for retail and 2000 lb totes for wholesale.
• Teff Sample Pack (Conventional) A discovery pack containing one 14 oz package each of Brown Teff Flour, Brown Teff Grain, Ivory Teff Flour, and Ivory Teff Grain for consumers to explore the flavor and versatility of teff.
• Organic Teff Sample Pack An organic discovery pack containing one 14 oz package each of Organic Brown Teff Flour, Organic Brown Teff Grain, Organic Ivory Teff Flour, and Organic Ivory Teff Grain.
• Wholesale Teff Supply Program Wholesale/B2B ingredient supply program offering conventional and organic teff flour and grain in 14 oz retail packs, 25 lb bags, and 2000 lb totes to retailers, bakeries, food manufacturers, and ingredient distributors. Pricing is quote-based under multi-year contracts and shipments are arranged via regional freight carriers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Third-party lab verification confirms gluten levels at 5 ppm or less, exceeding FDA requirements
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Pamela's Products: Gluten-free baking brand offering flour blends, mixes, cookies, and crackers through grocery and DTC channels. Comparable to Maskal Teff on gluten-free positioning, certifications, and providing gluten-free flours/blends for baking, though focuses more on finished baked goods and mixes.
• Andean Naturals: Sourcing and ingredient company specializing in quinoa, amaranth, and other ancient grains from the Americas for food manufacturers, bakeries, and CPG brands. Closely comparable to Maskal Teff on the model of sourcing/processing a single-niche ancient grain for wholesale ingredient customers with cultural and health-driven demand.
• Bob's Red Mill: US-based specialty miller offering a broad portfolio of gluten-free flours, ancient grains, and whole-grain baking products through DTC, grocery, and wholesale channels. Most directly comparable to Maskal Teff on product category (specialty flour/ancient grains), gluten-free positioning, certifications, and vertically oriented milling operations.
• Hodgson Mill: Family-owned US miller producing whole-grain, gluten-free, and ancient-grain flours (including flax, millet, sorghum) for retail and wholesale. Comparable to Maskal Teff in focus on specialty / non-wheat flours, multi-grain portfolio, and DTC plus wholesale distribution.
• Great River Organic Milling: Small-batch organic flour mill producing specialty and whole-grain flours (including gluten-free options) for DTC and small wholesale customers. Comparable to Maskal Teff in scale, vertical milling, organic certification, and specialization outside commodity wheat flour.

Broad incumbents

• Arrowhead Mills: Long-standing US brand of organic whole-grain flours, ancient grains, cereals, and baking ingredients sold through natural and grocery channels. Relevant peer on ancient-grain milling and organic certification while operating at larger scale and broader SKU breadth than Maskal Teff.
• Nature's Path: Large organic and gluten-free CPG brand selling cereals, granola, waffles, and baking mixes through grocery, natural, and DTC channels. Overlaps with Maskal Teff on organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free certifications, and on rising consumer demand for ancient-grain ingredients in cereal/breakfast categories.
• King Arthur Baking Company: Iconic US flour brand with nationwide grocery and foodservice distribution plus a DTC e-commerce and bakery education platform. Compares to Maskal Teff as a broader incumbent in the milled-grain category, overlapping on gluten-free and specialty-flour SKUs but operating at much larger scale and breadth.

Emerging players

• Cup4Cup (Chef's Choice Foods): Gluten-free flour blend brand widely adopted in professional and home baking kitchens; relevant peer on gluten-free positioning, baking-focused flour SKUs, and DTC-plus-foodservice distribution model.
• TruRoots: Brand focused on ancient grains like quinoa, sprouted grains, and pulse-based pastas sold through natural and grocery channels. Relevant emerging peer on the ancient-grain consumer positioning and retail merchandising with some overlap with Maskal Teff's gluten-free/whole-grain positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MaskalTeff
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maskalteff
• Instagraminstagram.com/maskalteff
• TikToktiktok.com/@maskalteff

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 The Teff