POORTMAN OPENS NEW SPANISH OFFICE

Jan 3rd, 2011

A. Poortman (London) Ltd, a division of Alliance Grain Trade Inc (“AGTI”) is pleased to announce the opening of its Spanish branch on January 3rd, 2011. A. Poortman (London) Ltd, sucursal en España will be known commercially as “Poortman España”.

This is an initiative to provide enhanced customer service and improved market information for Spanish users of lentils, chickpeas, edible beans and birdseeds.

Alfredo García (formerly of Garimpex Legumbres, S.L.) has been recruited as Director of Spanish operations and will continue working from his Madrid office. Alfredo brings with him 22 years experience of the global pulses and cereals business and looks forward to extending the service he provides to include a greater focus on Canadian lentils and chickpeas originating from AGTI’s modern cleaning facilities operated by its Canadian operating division, Saskcan Pulse Trading.

“I am delighted to be joining the Alliance-Saskcan-Poortman group. This move will allow Poortman España to be able to share global information with clients and source from our group´s own dedicated pulse processing facilities in Canada, the U.S., Turkey, Australia and China”, commented Mr. Garcia.

Andrew Jacobs, Managing Director of Poortman London adds, “We have worked closely with Alfredo and his father for many years, during which time intimate trust and mutual respect has been established.  I am delighted to welcome Alfredo as Director of our Spanish operations.  We will be increasing our locally held stocks of pulses to provide Spanish clients with a ‘just in time service’ as well as being able to offer long term delivery contracts”.

“Spain is a very important consumption and import market for key products from our group, especially for lentils and chickpeas.  We look forward to showing Spanish customers that the Alliance - Saskcan group can be a competitive volume supplier of reliable, top quality food ingredients.  We wish Alfredo well in this new venture which has our full support”, said Murad Al-Katib, President and CEO of AGTI.

For details of our product ranges and contact information, please refer to our websites, www.poortman.com and www.alliancegrain.com.

The new Poortman España offices can be contacted at the following address:

Poortman España
Orense 28 - 2A,
28020 Madrid,  España         
T: +34 91 555 8099
M: +34 607 695 065
E:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Alliance Grain Traders Inc. Profile
Alliance Grain Traders Inc. (AGTI) is a pulse processor and exporter engaged in the business of value-added processing (cleaning, splitting, sorting and bagging) of pulses and specialty crops, for export and domestic markets. Through its offices and processing facilities located in some of the best pulse growing regions in Canada, the U.S., Turkey, Australia and China and trading and sales offices in the UK, the Netherlands and Spain, AGTI  handles a full range of pulses and specialty crops including lentils, peas, chickpeas, beans and canary seed.  Through its subsidiaries in Turkey, the Arbel Group, AGTI also produces staple foods such as Arbella Pasta, rice, and milled wheat products, including bulgur and semolina.

For more information regarding Poortman España, please contact:

Andrew Jacobs, Managing Director
A. Poortman (London) Ltd
www.poortman.com
T: +44 (0) 207 264 5004
E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Alfredo García , Director
Poortman España   
T: +34 91 555 8099
M: +34 607 695 065
E:  agarcia@poortmanom

A. POORTMAN (LONDON) LTD
ACQUIRED BY ALLIANCE GRAIN TRADERS, of Canada

A. Poortman (London) Ltd. is pleased to announce that it has been acquired by Alliance Grain Traders Inc (AGTI). The strength of AGTI’s origination and global operations will greatly enhance Poortmans’ future development as a multi-origin supplier of pulses and birdseed ingredients to the quality conscious markets of the world.

The business has been acquired from Andrew Jacobs, the Managing Director of Poortmans, and Trinidad Benham Corporation, a leading US packaged foods company. Andrew Jacobs and the entire Management and Trading teams will remain in place.

Poortmans is one of the oldest and most recognized trading companies for pulses and birdseeds in Europe.  We are a strategic acquisition for AGTI, and will support their continued expansion into the global dry edible bean industry.

AGTI is a pulse processor and exporter engaged in the business of value-added processing (cleaning, splitting, sorting and bagging) of pulses and specialty crops, for export and domestic markets. Through its processing facilities located in some of the best pulse growing regions in Canada, the US, Turkey and Australia, AGTI  handles a full range of pulses and specialty crops including lentils, peas, chickpeas, beans and canary seed.  Through its subsidiaries in Turkey, the Arbel Group, AGTI also produces other staple foods including Arbella Pasta, rice, and milled wheat products, such as bulgur and semolina.

As most of you know, Poortmans has been an international importer, distributor and stockist of pulses including beans, lentils, chickpeas, and birdseed such as millet, canary, sunflower and niger seed, for over 140 years. To ensure continuity of supply for all customers and to meet spot demand, stock is held at four strategic locations in the UK, Holland, Spain, and Italy. Experienced and specialized trading teams are integral to the success of Poortmans, working worldwide with suppliers to source suitable product and meet quality and delivery standards, while remaining competitive and ensuring continuity of supply. Risks are spread and managed effectively, enabling Poortmans to achieve its goal of delivering first quality product on time, every time with no break in supply. Branch offices in London, UK, Waalwijk, the Netherlands and a bean processing plant in Tianjin, China make up the Poortman Group.

Our early plans include an investment of about Cdn $2 million upgrading the capacity and capability of our Chinese pulse processing plant.

We have been acquired because of our experience and position in the market, which has been built up over many years, on the basis of a strong belief in customer service – reliable quality product and good market information are integral parts of that customer service.

Looking forward nothing will change, the Poortman Team in the UK, Holland and China will remain the same under unchanged local management and we will continue to aspire to excellence in customer service – it is business as usual.

We thank you for your continued support and look forward to maintaining mutually beneficial co-operation with you for many years to come.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call your regular contact at Poortmans.

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