Peanuts
 
ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA, U.S. — Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts, a subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM), is investing in its third expansion project at the company’s production facility in Blakely, Georgia, U.S. This newest expansion project will increase the plant capacity and add new technology for quality control as well as cool storage to preserve quality for the finished products at the facility.

“Adding capacity and functionality to the Blakely facility will help us meet growing customer demand using new technology to ensure we continue to deliver the high-quality products our customers have come to expect from Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts,” said Greg Mills, president, Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts. “I am proud of the entire team at Blakely for their continued work to build a great business with an exceptional future as we expand and execute our mission of serving nutrition to the world.”

This latest expansion project will involve adding:

  • new technology that increases efficiencies and capacity
  • raw materials storage warehouse
  • storage for manufacturing supplies
  • cool storage warehouse using innovative technology to preserve finished products.

“The demand for plant-based protein ingredients such as peanut flour is growing as consumers focus on healthier food and beverage solutions as well as clean and clear labels,” said Bruce Kotz, vice-president of specialty products for Golden Peanut. “At facilities such as Blakely, Golden Peanut can deliver U.S.-sourced peanut flour in both organic and conventional forms for customers to use in a variety of finished goods and formulations. Continuing to improve and invest in these facilities and communities helps ensure we can continue to meet that demand and best serve our customers now and in the future.”

Construction is currently scheduled to begin in the fall of 2017 and expected to be complete during the fall of 2018.

“We are extremely excited to continue our partnership with Golden Peanut and its parent company ADM,” said James Crozier, director, Development Authority of Early County. “Agriculture is the driving force of our economy, so naturally the city and county are extremely excited to carry on our relationship with Golden Peanut. The facility was originally constructed in 2004, and the Development Authority of Early County is so happy that the growth and partnership are continuing in 2017.”

The announcement is the latest in a series of expansions for ADM in the past few months.  On June 2, the company announced it is constructing a new flour mill in Mendota, Illinois, U.S. The high-capacity, modern facility will allow the company to continue to meet growing demand for flour throughout the Midwest.

In May, ADM finished a series of expansions at its export terminal in Santos, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo.  The project added a second ship loading line and a fourth truck unloading station, allowing for more efficient operations.

Also in May, the company reached an agreement to purchase a controlling interest in Industries Centers, an Israeli company specializing in the import and distribution of agricultural feed products. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval in Israel. ADM anticipates completing the deal in the coming months.

In late March, the company began talks to acquire Chamtor, a French producer of wheat-based sweeteners and starches. The transaction is expected to close by this summer.

The company also has been focusing on its pet food and animal nutrition services in the past few months. In mid-January, ADM signed an agreement to acquire Crosswind Industries, Inc., a Kansas, U.S.-based producer of dry-expanded, dual-texture, semi-dry and semi-moist treat products for pets.