Saco Foods Acquires Quinoa Corp., Including Ancient Harvest, Pamela’s Brands

Saco Foods, a Middleton, Wis.-based manufacturer of branded, niche food products, has acquired Quinoa Corp. and its brands — Ancient Harvest and Pamela’s — from Encore Consumer Capital. Saco is a portfolio company of Fengate Private Equity and Weathervane Investment Corp.

The Ancient Harvest brand was founded in 1983 and is said to have pioneered the sale of quinoa in the U.S., according to the release announcing the deal. Today, the brand provides value-added, plant-based products including gluten-free pasta, polenta and quinoa.

Pamela’s, which was acquired by Quinoa Corp. in 2019, was founded in 1988 and produces gluten-free baking mixes and baked goods, including pancake mixes, snack bars and flours, as well as gluten-free graham crackers and fruit-filled cookies.

John Becker, who served as CEO of Quinoa Corp., will become president of Ancient Harvest and Pamela’s under the Saco Foods umbrella. Saco acquired Solo Foods in January of this year shortly after being acquired by its current private-equity ownership. The company adds Ancient Harvest and Pamela’s brands to its portfolio, which includes Saco Pantry, Dolci Frutta, California Sun Dry, Hoosier Hill Farm and Solo Foods.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.