WESTCHESTER, ILLINOIS, U.S. — Ingredion Inc. announced on June 23 that it has entered an agreement with Alliance Grain Traders Inc. (AGT) to be AGT's distributor of that company's pulse flours, protein and bran ingredients. The agreement includes products for consumer foods, for example, baked goods, snack, pasta and covers the U.S., Canada, China, most of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

The announcement was made at the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting and Food Expo in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., by Murad Al-Katib, chief executive officer and president of Alliance Grain Traders and Igor Playner, vice-president, innovation and strategy, North America of Ingredion.

"We are excited for the prospects of our alliance with Ingredion" said Al-Katib. "The application expertise, the reach of the specialized go-to-market approach and the focus on innovation and product development of Ingredion will complement AGT's global leadership in sourcing and processing pulses, allowing us an increased and added value offering to our customers."

Playner also spoke highly of the initiative, “The alliance with AGT opens a new chapter for Ingredion, and complements three of our most important growth platforms - wholesome ingredients, texturizers and nutritional ingredients.  Gaining access to pulses as an additional base in our toolbox, in the form of flours, protein and semolinas aligns with a growing market interest for vegetable protein sources. Adding this exciting new product portfolio to our established line of innovative texture, wholesome and nutritional ingredients will enable us to deliver new formulated solutions in key applications, such as protein- and fiber-fortified snacks, non-GM and gluten-free foods."

Ingredion will be introducing these products to the market over the next 120 days. Most of the line will be marketed under Ingredion's HOMECRAFT brand that currently encompasses a broad range of functional, gluten free and clean label flours.

"As a leading supplier of specialty flours that are highly functional in a range of applications, such as gluten free, nutrition and fiber enrichment, the addition of the AGT product line greatly expands our ability to serve these and other growing sectors," said Playner.