Montana Gluten Free

What Montana Gluten Free does

Montana Gluten Free is a vertically integrated gluten-free food company headquartered in Belgrade, Montana, that produces oat-based baking mixes, flours, breakfast cereals, bread mixes, and whole grain products from its proprietary PrOatina oat variety (Avena nuda sp.). The company was founded on the Gluten Free Oat Purity Protocol, developed in 2003, which governs every stage of production from seed sourcing and field selection (4+ years without gluten grains) through dedicated processing equipment in its allergen-free facility (free of the top 9 allergens plus corn) to ELISA G12/R5 testing that ensures products test below 5 ppm gluten. The PrOatina variety was co-developed with Montana State University plant scientists and contains an average of 20% protein — approximately 25% more than competing oat varieties — due to its naturally hulless characteristic that preserves sprouting-capable enzymes.

The company sells directly to consumers through its e-commerce website (montanaglutenfree.com) with package sizes from 1 lb to 25 lb, and operates a wholesale channel serving grocery retailers, bakeries, granola bar companies, and food manufacturers in the US and Canada. Pricing ranges from $6.45 for a 1 lb Cream of Oats to $168.90 for a 25 lb Organic Oat Bran bag, with both conventional and USDA-certified organic options across the portfolio. Products carry CSA certification (since 2004), GIG certification (since 2007), Non-GMO Project verification, Kosher certification (Scroll K), and USDA Organic certification — making Montana Gluten Free the only producer of a CSA-approved oat.

Montana Gluten Free was acquired by ZEGO Foods in July 2025, which now manages billing and order processing while the Montana Gluten Free brand continues to operate independently under the parent company. The company previously operated under the name "Rocky Mountain Rice" and has expanded its product portfolio to include a new Timtana category alongside its core oat-based offerings.

Name

Montana Gluten Free

Legal name

Montana Gluten Free Processors

Website

https://montanaglutenfree.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Montana Gluten Free is a vertically integrated gluten-free food company in Belgrade, Montana, producing certified gluten-free oat-based baking mixes, flours, and cereals from its proprietary PrOatina variety for consumers and commercial food manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gluten-Free Oat-Based Food Products

NAICS

Bread and Bakery Product Manufacturing (31181), All Other Specialty Food Retailers (445298)

SIC

Grain Mill Products (2040), Bakery Products (2050), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Grain-Based Mixes & Doughs Manufacturing (pancake/waffle mixes, baking mixes, dough bases) (AFAKABAF), Specialty Bakery Manufacturing (Gluten-Free, Artisan, Health-Focused) (AFAKAAAG), Gluten-Free & Allergen-Friendly Bakery Wholesale (AFAIAFAF)

Keywords

• Gluten-free oats
• Gluten-free baking mixes
• Organic oat products
• Wholesale gluten-free ingredients
• Celiac-safe foods

Headquarters

HQ city

Belgrade

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Products sold directly to individual consumers through the montanaglutenfree.com e-commerce website. Consumers can purchase baking mixes, oat products, breads, and specialty items in various sizes from 1 lb to 25 lb bags.
2. Wholesale & Bulk Sales: Wholesale accounts for verifiable food businesses including grocery stores, retailers, bakeries, granola bar companies, and food manufacturers. Larger package sizes available for wholesale accounts. Products include certified gluten-free oats, flours, and baking mixes for commercial food production.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Montana Gluten Free manufactures and sells gluten-free oat-based food products under its proprietary PrOatina oat variety, including baking mixes, bread mixes, breakfast cereals, oat flours, and whole grain naked oat groats. The company operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront and a wholesale program supplying bakeries, granola bar manufacturers, and grocery retailers with bulk certified gluten-free ingredients.

Product overview

Montana Gluten Free is a gluten-free food company offering a portfolio of oat-based products centered around their proprietary PrOatina oat variety. The product line includes three core categories: (1) Baking Mixes (All Purpose Baking Mix, Organic All Purpose Baking Mix, Waffle Pancake Mix, Organic Waffle Pancake Mix) that substitute 1:1 for wheat flour; (2) Breakfast Cereals (Cream of Oats, Oat Bran, Raw Oatmeal, Organic versions of each) which are hot cereals and porridge products; (3) Flours (Raw Oat Flour, Toasted Oat Flour, Organic versions) for experienced gluten-free bakers; and (4) Bread Mixes (Toasted Oat Bread Mix, Organic Toasted Oat Bread Mix). The company also sells whole grain products including Naked Oats (formerly Rocky Mountain Rice), a rice replacement made from sproutable naked oat groats. All products are made from PrOatina, a high-protein (20%), low-allergen oat variety developed at Montana State University, and are processed in a dedicated allergen-free facility free of the top 9 allergens plus corn.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• All Purpose Baking Mix A gluten-free baking mix made with PrOatina purity protocol grown oats, tapioca flour, xanthan gum and salt that substitutes one-for-one for wheat flour in most recipes including cookies, pizza crust, gravy, and beer batter; free of the 8 most common allergens and available in 3 lb to 25 lb packages.
• Gluten Free Cream of Oats 100% oat bran hot breakfast cereal providing 10g of protein and 7g of fiber per serving; positioned as a more nutritious alternative to cream of wheat or cream of rice and also usable in bran muffins; sold in a 1 lb package.
• Gluten Free Oat Bran Gluten-free oat bran hot breakfast cereal containing 10g protein and 7.5g fiber per serving, packaged in a resealable bag in 3 lb, 7.5 lb, and 25 lb sizes.
• Gluten Free Raw Oat Flour Uncooked raw oat flour with 8g protein and 5g fiber per serving, intended for experienced gluten-free bakers; up to 30% of recipe flour can be replaced with this flour; available in 7.5 lb to 25 lb package sizes.
• Gluten Free Toasted Oat Flour Toasted oat flour produced by toasting PrOatina oats before milling, which removes bitterness caused by the high protein content; serves as the base for many of the company's baking and bread mixes; available in 1 lb to 25 lb package sizes.
• Naked Oats (formerly Rocky Mountain Rice) 100% raw whole oat groats marketed as a rice replacement with three times the protein and half the glycemic index of white rice; naturally hulless and sproutable so enzymes remain alive; available in 1 lb, 25 lb, and 50 lb sizes.
• Organic All Purpose Baking Mix Certified organic 1:1 wheat flour substitute made with organic gluten-free toasted oat flour, organic tapioca flour, xanthan gum and salt; certified organic by Montana Department of Agriculture; available in 3 lb to 25 lb sizes.
• Organic Cream of Oats Certified organic pure oat bran hot breakfast cereal positioned as more nutritious than cream of wheat or cream of rice; also usable for bran muffins and smoothies; sold in a 1 lb package.
• Organic Waffle Pancake Mix Certified organic waffle and pancake mix made with purity protocol grown oats that can also be used as an all-purpose baking mix for cookies and other baked goods; available in 1 lb, 7.5 lb, and 25 lb sizes.
• Waffle Pancake Mix Conventional gluten-free waffle and pancake mix made with toasted oat flour, tapioca starch, xanthan gum and salt; doubles as an all-purpose baking mix; available in 1 lb to 25 lb sizes.
• Organic Oat Bran Certified organic oat bran hot breakfast cereal made with 100% organic PrOatina oats; certified by Montana Department of Agriculture under USDA guidelines; available in 3 lb, 7.5 lb, and 25 lb sizes.
• Organic Raw Oatmeal The only organic raw rolled oatmeal produced in North America; made from naturally hulless PrOatina oats that require no steaming or cooking before rolling, preserving live enzymes, unique flavor and aroma; contains 20% protein; available in 3 lb to 25 lb sizes.
• Raw Oatmeal The only raw rolled oatmeal produced in North America; produced from naturally hulless PrOatina oats via a dry-rolling process that preserves live enzymes, providing 8g protein and 5g fiber per serving and longer shelf life than wet-milled oatmeal; available in 3 lb to 25 lb sizes.
• Toasted Oat Bread Mix Conventional gluten-free bread mix producing tall, light bread that stays moist for days due to high protein and fiber content; can be made in conventional oven or bread machine and can be egg and/or yeast free; available in 1 lb to 25 lb sizes.
• Organic Gluten Free Naked Oats Certified organic 100% whole grain oat groats that are naturally hulless and sproutable, with the enzymes needed for sprouting kept alive; certified organic by Montana Department of Agriculture.
• Organic Gluten Free Toasted Oat Flour Certified organic toasted oat flour made by toasting PrOatina oats before milling to remove bitterness from the high protein content; versatile base for baking and bread mixes but cannot be substituted 1:1 for wheat flour; sold in a 3 lb package.
• Organic Toasted Oat Bread Mix Certified organic gluten-free bread mix that produces tall, light bread staying moist for days; made with organic gluten-free toasted oat flour, organic tapioca starch, gluten-free oatmeal, xanthan gum and salt; can be made egg and/or yeast free; available in 1 lb to 25 lb sizes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products test less than 5 ppm gluten — well below FDA standard of 20 ppm and CSA standard of 5 ppm
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• ZEGO (ZEGO Foods)coreOthersMontana Gluten Free DBA was acquired by ZEGO in July 2025. ZEGO is the parent company that manages all billing and order processing. Both brands continue to operate with the same commitment to quality and gluten-free standards. 'ZEGO Foods' appears on credit card statements for Montana Gluten Free purchases.
• Montana State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontana Gluten Free worked with a team of plant scientists from Montana State University to naturally select the PrOatina oat variety. Scientists planted several varieties, evaluated nutritional value, and chose the variety now called PrOatina — a non-GMO, naturally hulless oat with high protein content.
• Romer LabssupportingTechnology or IntegrationThird-party testing laboratory for gluten analysis. Montana Gluten Free sends seed samples to Romer Lab for Gluten ELISA G12 and R5 testing. Products test null on both assays when tested by Romer Labs.
• Montana State Grain LabsupportingTechnology or IntegrationThird-party laboratory for purity and mycotoxin testing of incoming oat seed shipments.
• Montana Cereal Grain LabsupportingTechnology or IntegrationThird-party laboratory for protein content analysis of oat samples.
• Scroll K (Kosher Certification)supportingOthersKosher certification body. All Montana Gluten Free products and processes are Kosher certified by Scroll K.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pamela's Products: Specialty gluten-free baking mix brand offering pancake/waffle mixes, cookies, and bread mixes. Direct peer in gluten-free baking mix category with similar D2C and specialty retail distribution.
• King Arthur Baking Company: Premium baking flour and mix brand with a strong gluten-free product line. Comparable in target customer (home bakers), product categories (flours, baking mixes, bread mixes), and brand positioning around quality and substitution for wheat.
• Bakery on Main: Gluten-free granola, oat-based breakfast, and baking products brand. Comparable in offering certified gluten-free oat-based products to retail and wholesale channels with similar health-conscious consumer targeting.
• Bob's Red Mill: Major direct-to-consumer and wholesale brand specializing in whole grain flours, baking mixes, oats, and gluten-free products. Most directly comparable peer by product mix (oats, flours, baking mixes), D2C + wholesale model, and gluten-free certification positioning.
• GF Harvest (Gluten Free Harvest): US producer of certified gluten-free oats using a purity protocol similar to Montana Gluten Free. Wholly comparable in product focus (gluten-free oats) and protocol-driven differentiation, though lacking the proprietary PrOatina variety.
• Arrowhead Mills: Organic and gluten-free flour, grain, and baking mix brand owned by Hain Celestial. Comparable in organic certification positioning, baking mix portfolio, and grain-based product lines serving health-conscious consumers.

Broad incumbents

• Krusteaz: Established baking mix brand with gluten-free product lines (pancake, muffin, brownie mixes). Larger incumbent with broad retail distribution overlapping in baking mix categories.
• Chex (General Mills): Gluten-free cereal brand from General Mills, one of the dominant mainstream gluten-free offerings. Mass-market competitor in the gluten-free cereal category with vastly larger distribution and marketing budget.

Emerging players

• Cream Hill Estates (Yogourmet): Canadian specialty gluten-free oat producer using a purity protocol. Comparable in protocol-driven gluten-free oat production for celiac consumers, though smaller and more regionally focused.

Others

• ZEGO Foods: Parent company that acquired Montana Gluten Free in July 2025. Operates in the same allergen-free, single-ingredient snack space with comparable ingredient purity and transparency positioning. Included as the immediate corporate parent and product-line ecosystem partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MTglutenfree
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/montana-gluten-free-processors-llc

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Montana Gluten Free