Sale of Rannoch Grains Inc. to Thompsons Limited slated to close in June

Monday, April 13, 2015

by SUSAN MANN

The deal by Thompsons Limited to buy the grain receiving and handling company, Rannoch Grains Inc., is slated to close June 30.

Thompsons president Dawn Betancourt says in a press release the company’s purchase of Rannoch Grains, located near St. Marys, will enable it to expand its reach for grain marketing, agronomy solutions, and the food products business into a strategic geographic location “that will help us better serve our customers.”

Betancourt couldn’t be reached for comment.

Rannoch Grains has two receiving pits with the capacity to handle 12,000 bushels per hour, according to the Rannoch Grains website. The total storage capacity of the facility is one million bushels. The facility also had a new dryer installed in 2012 that can handle 60 metric tonnes per hour.

Terry Koehler, Thompsons chief financial officer, says Thompsons plan is to grow the business at the Rannoch Grains facility. Rannoch “will vacate on June 30 and we’re going to step in on July 1.”

The facility’s current owners are working to move the grain they have stored “out of there,” he says. But by June 30 “the place should be nearly empty.”

Crop reception starts in July/August with wheat, while soybeans go in September and corn is received in October/November, Koehler explains. In the spring, “you’re moving that grain to customers” so by June 30th the Rannoch Grains facility should be close to empty.

“We’ll start filling it with the wheat harvest, which starts in July and August,” he notes.

Thompsons also announced it is upgrading its Mitchell-Schoonderwoerd facility to increase efficiencies in unloading times, drying and grain handling.

Founded in 1924 in Blenheim, Thompsons processes and packages food grade products plus ships grain and edible beans to domestic and global markets. It also sells fertilizer, crop protection products and offers customized farm-related services. BF