We salute our Founding Members by recognizing the handful of pioneering companies that partnered with the WGC in its first year and have remained members ever since. Thanks for believing in our cause from the beginning, before there was a Whole Grain Stamp… before whole grains were in the dietary guidelines… and before consumer demand began to grow!

Arrowhead Mills / Hain Celestial

Arrowhead Mills has been selling organic baking ingredients, grains, and other products for more than half a century. Since 1999, Arrowhead Mills has been owned by the Hain Celestial Group. More about Arrowhead Mills

Barbara’s Bakery / Weetabix

The company Barbara Jaffe started at age 17, in 1971, grew over the years to become a major force in providing healthy grain-based products. In 1986, Barbara’s Bakery was bought by UK company Weetabix. More about Barbara’s Bakery

Bob’s Red Mill

Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods produces more than 400 whole grain foods for every meal of the day, including a full line of certified gluten-free products. Founded in 1978 by Bob and Charlee Moore, the company became employee owned in 2010. More about Bob’s Red Mill

Farmer Direct Foods

Since 1988 Farmer Direct has been a producer-owned marketing cooperative dedicated to developing white wheat markets for wheat producers. Located in Kansas, Farmer Direct has been a major force behind the popularization of whole white wheat. More about Farmer Direct Foods

Fleischmann’s Yeast / ACH Food

Introduced at Philadelphia’s 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Fleischmann’s Yeast has long been a mainstay for bakers seeking a reliable leavening product. Fleischmann’s early support of the whole grain movement is much appreciated. More about Fleischmann’s Yeast

FritoLay

FritoLay was one of the first large companies to voluntarily remove trans fats from its products (and 2003), and one of the first to commit to whole grains, in products like its popular SunChips. More about FritoLay

General Mills

In 2004, shortly after joining the Whole Grains Council, General Mills reformulated its entire Big G cereal line to incorporate at least half a serving of whole grain into every product, setting an important positive example to the public and to industry. More about General Mills

Hodgson Mill

A family-owned company with more than 125 years’ experience producing stone ground, whole grain, organic foods, Hodgson Mill provides flours, corn meals, cereals, baking mixes, pasta and more – all without artifical perservatives, additives or colorings. More about Hodgson Mill

Kamut international / Montana Flour & Grains

Montana Flour & Grains sells high-quality flour and whole grain kernels grown by more than 150 family-owned and operated farms in Montana and nearby areas. As the sole U.S. agent for KAMUT® brand wheat, Montana Flour & Grains partnered with Kamut International to be an early supporter of the WGC. More about Kamut International and Montana Flour & Grains

Lotus Foods

Since 1995, Lotus Foods has pioneered the introduction to the U.S. of exotic rice handcrafted on small family farms in remote areas of the world such as Bhutan, Bangladesh and China. Passionate about its mission to support sustainable global agriculture, Lotus Foods is a leader in the specialty rice category. More about Lotus Foods

Roman Meal Company

Often recognized as the first commercial brand of whole grain bread in the U.S., Roman Meal Bread has a long history dating back to 1927. Still owned by the Matthei family – German bakers since 1686 – Roman Meal now produces not only breads but a line of delicious whole grain cereals. More about Roman Meal Company

Snyder’s of Hanover

A pioneer in the introduction of whole grain snack products, Snyder’s of Hanover produces pretzels, corn chips and other whole grain snacks that qualify for the Whole Grain Stamp. More about Snyder’s of Hanover

Sunnyland Mills

A wholesale processor of whole grain bulgur wheat and specialty grains since 1935, Sunnyland Mills is run by the Orlando family. Sunnyland’s state of the art plant is powered with solar panels – a modern return to the ancient Mediterranean practice of drying bulgur wheat with sun power. More about Sunnyland Mills

United Sorghum Checkoff Program

Sorghum is a gluten-free whole grain that is neutral in flavor and inexpensive to grow, making it ideal for companies reformulating their products to contain more whole grains. The United Sorghum Checkoff Program helps promote sorghum and its many uses. More about United Sorghum Checkoff Program

USA Rice Federation

The USA Rice Federation is the global advocate for all segments of the U.S. rice industry, with a mission to promote and protect the interests of producers, millers, merchants and allied businesses. More about USA Rice Federation