Milling & Baking News - April 6, 2021 - 26

Pasta's value stands out in
12-month sales surge

Acquisitions buoy major players while smaller players look to fill specialty demand

he value consumers see in a pasta The acquired businesses will fill a large and leader in the pasta category, " said
Scott McNair, CEO of 8th Avenue. " With
meal at home is evident in data swath of the country.
" Pasta is an important and profitable cat- its highly on-trend, versatile product ofshowing strong year-over-year
growth in the category since the onset of egory for TreeHouse within our Meal Prep fering, state-of-the art facility, and imdivision, and the addition of the Riviana pressive customer base, Ronzoni has a
the coronavirus pandemic last year.
In the 52 weeks ended Feb. 21, dollar portfolio will enhance our ability to serve strong foundation from which to build
sales in the dry spaghetti/macaroni/pas- a broad set of customers and improves our on its leading market presence. Together
ta (no noodles) category totaled $2.42 bil- profitability and cash flow through greater with the Ronzoni team, we look forward
lion, up 26% from the same period a year operating leverage, " said Steven T. Oak- to driving further growth and scale by
ago, according to Information Resources, land, president and chief executive officer, delivering innovative products to all our
Inc., a Chicago-based market research during a Nov. 5, 2020, conference call to dis- loyal customers. "
With the pending sale of Ronzoni, Ebro
firm. Unit sales also surged, climbing 19% cuss third-quarter results.
Brands included in the acquisition Foods will still maintain a presence in the
to 1.7 billion units.
Impressively, each of the United States' were Skinner, No Yolks, American Beauty, North American market through its dry
top four pasta manufacturers turned in Creamette, San Giorgio, Prince and Light and fresh pasta businesses (Garofalo, Beryear-over-year dollar sales growth of more 'n Fluffy, Mrs. Weiss', Wacky Mac, P&R tagni and Olivieri), frozen products (Ebrofrost), rice and other
than 24%, led by categoproducts (Carolina, Mary leader Barilla America
Top-selling spaghetti/macaroni/pasta
hatma, Minute, Success,
Inc.'s nearly 26% gain.
(no noodles) vendors
Tilda and RiceSelect).
Parma, Italy-based BaBut it wasn't just the
rilla in February acquired

Per cent
Per cent
nation's largest pasta
the Catelli dry pasta busi
Dollar
change from
Unit
change from
makers taking advantage
ness in Canada from Ma
sales
year ago
sales
year ago
of consumers' renewed
drid, Spain-based Ebro
Barilla America Inc.
$835,069,745
25.6
498,000,762
17.2
interest in the category
Foods for C$165 million
TreeHouse Foods, Inc.
$223,488,813
24.1
169,431,337
16.1
Riviana Foods Inc.
$161,089,443
24.9
116,572,976
9.5
over the past year. Small($130 million). The Catelli
American Italian Pasta Co. $138,406,221
25.4
93,475,473
17.4
er players and entirely
dry pasta business inPrivate label
$649,233,038
19.9
563,008,419
18.9
new entrants looked to
cludes the Catelli, Lancia
make their mark with inand Splendor brands and
52 weeks ended Feb. 21, 2021
novative new offerings.
a plant in Montreal. In
Total US - Multi outlet w/convenience store (grocery, drug, mass market, convenience, military and select
club and dollar retailers)
In November, ZENB,
2019, the Catelli dry pasta
Source: Information Resources, Inc.
Chicago, launched a
business generated revnew line of plant-based
enues of C$103.3 million
and contributed C$9.5 million in net profit Procino-Rossi and New Mill. Together, pastas that use the entire legume of yelthey generated approximately $200 mil- low peas - including skin - to add fiber,
to the Ebro Group.
The nation's second largest dry pasta lion in sales during the 12-month period create a mild flavor and desirable texture,
and support food waste reduction. The
maker, TreeHouse Foods, Inc., Oak Brook, ended June 30, 2020.
The only notable brand not acquired in pasta is available in elbows, rotini and
Ill., posted year-over-year dollar sales
growth of 24% and unit sales growth of the transaction was Ronzoni. Last week, penne shapes and has 30% fewer net
16% in the 52 weeks ended Feb. 21, ac- 8th Avenue Food & Provisions, Inc., carbs than traditional pasta, ZENB said.
which is partially owned by St. Louis- Each 3-oz serving contains 300 calories,
cording to IRI.
Like Barilla, TreeHouse received a based Post Holdings, Inc., reached an 17 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber.
More recently, Chickapea, Chicago, anboost late in the year from an acquisition. agreement to acquire the Ronzoni dry
In November, TreeHouse acquired re- pasta brand and a dry pasta manufac- nounced it's putting a plant-based spin
gional pasta brands from Riviana Foods, turing facility located in Winchester, Va., on pasta with its new +Greens line.
The organic and gluten-free pasta is
a business unit of Ebro Foods, for $242.5 from Riviana Foods Inc. in a transaction
made with only chickpeas, lentils, kale
million. The acquisition included a man- valued at $95 million.
According to IRI, the Ronzoni brand and spinach. Each serving contains more
ufacturing plant in St. Louis. TreeHouse
said the transaction gives the company generated dollar sales of $132.48 million than two servings of vegetables, 11 grams
leverage in terms of geographic reach in the 52 weeks ended Feb. 21, which was of fiber and 24 grams of protein. Additionand increased volumes. TreeHouse's pas- up 29% from the same period a year ago. ally, the pasta provides iron and vitamins
" We are looking forward to welcoming K and B6. MBN
ta businesses are located in the western
and eastern portions of the United States. the Ronzoni brand to our team, a pioneer
- Eric Schroeder
26 / April 6, 2021

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RIVIANA FOODS

Pasta Update

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Milling & Baking News - April 6, 2021

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