WOODLAND, CALIFORNIA, U.S. — Alex T. Balafoutis has been named executive vice-president of Western Foods, a division of Western Milling that offers gluten- and allergen-free rice flours, ancient grain milling, blending, packaging and distribution for the B2B and B2C market segments.

Before joining Western Foods, Balafoutis spent nearly 35 years with PGP International, Inc., a division of Associated British Foods. He was most recently the vice-president of PGP’s rice business unit. In this role, Balafoutis gained experience in the rice, rice flour, premix, extruded cereal and snack businesses.

Balafoutis was previously chairman of the USA Rice Millers Association and is now the chairman of the USA Rice Federation’s Technical Working Group. Additionally, he serves on various committees with the USA Rice Federation and the California Rice Commission.

“We are delighted to have Alex as the latest member of our team,” said Miguel Reyna, president and chief executive officer of Western Foods. “We are in a substantial growth phase for our rice and ancient grain flour business, with the recent opening of our new dedicated gluten-free rice mill in Pine Bluff, Ark.”

Western Foods is a supplier of conventional and organic, non-GMO rice and ancient grain flours. The company also sells corn and legume flours as well as creates whole gain, multi-grain, high fiber and celiac friendly food products. Western Foods additionally has proprietary technology to produce reduced micro and pre-gelatinized flours.