Woodland, California-based PGP International plans to shut down operations at its sweet rice milling facility in Colusa, California, by the end of August after all open commitments have been met.
The decision to close the Riverbend Mill, which parent company ABF Ingredients acquired in 2007, came after several months of review and will affect 16 employees, according to a news release.
CEO Angelica Horst says in today’s highly dynamic and competitive markets, PGPI will focus on key specialty areas so the company can continue to provide a first-class service to its customers.
“We will ensure that those customers who utilize our specialty sweet rice continue to receive the usual high-quality product and first-class service.” Horst says. “PGP International is growing strongly and, by contracting the milling of our specialty sweet rice to a third party, we will be able to focus our resources more effectively in the future.”
Operations at Colusa will wind down over the coming weeks with complete closure planned for the end of August. PGPI intends to maintain an active interest in the sweet rice sector in the longer-term.
The company was originally established in Woodland as Pacific Rice Products Inc. in 1983. ACH Foods Co. of Cordova, Tennessee, acquired the Woodland company, which had changed its name to Pacific Grain Products, in 1999.
In 2002, ABF Ingredients was established, and Pacific Grain Products became PGP International, an ABF Ingredients company. ABF Ingredients is a division of Associated British Foods.