Ebro Foods
A Spanish multinational food group focused primarily on rice, pasta, sauces, and related staple foods.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Ebro Foods, S.A. is a Spanish multinational food-processing group headquartered in Madrid and listed on the Bolsa de Madrid under the ticker EBRO. The company is principally associated with rice and pasta, although its portfolio and historical activities have also included sauces, functional foods, dairy products, sugar, agricultural products, and biofuel-related ventures. Its business is organized around branded, value-added staple foods rather than commodity production alone, giving the group exposure to household grocery consumption in Spain, Europe, North America, and other international markets. The company developed into a diversified food group through a combination of acquisitions, disposals, and international expansion. Its historical corporate identity included the name Ebro Puleva. Over time, the group moved away from several non-core activities. It sold its sugar division to the British Sugar subsidiary of Associated British Foods in 2009 and disposed of its dairy business to Lactalis in March 2010. The dairy transaction was reported at €630 million, while the sugar divestment formed part of a broader strategic refocusing on rice and pasta. Ebro also sold Catesa Foods, a Tenerife-based business involved in tropical fruit, flowers, and ornamental plants, in 2005. Rice became the group's most important global platform. In the United States, Ebro entered the market through the acquisition of Houston-based Riviana Foods in 2004. It subsequently expanded the platform through the acquisition of New World Pasta in 2006, the purchase of American Rice in 2011, and the acquisition of RiceSelect in 2015. In 2017, Riviana Foods, American Rice, and New World Pasta were brought together under the Riviana name. The combined organization became a major U.S. rice producer and marketer and a leading pasta producer, with brands including Mahatma, Carolina, Minute Rice, Success, Comet, RiceSelect, Ronzoni, San Giorgio, Prince, Creamette, and No Yolks. Ebro's international rice portfolio has also included Tilda, which it acquired from Hain Celestial in 2019. The brand strengthened Ebro's position in basmati and other premium rice segments. In pasta and Mediterranean foods, the group has operated brands such as Panzani and Riso Gallo, while its broader portfolio has included sauces and other meal components. In 2021, Ebro announced the sale of the Panzani and related Ferrero-branded businesses to CVC Capital Partners for €550 million, another step toward concentrating resources on selected rice, pasta, and food-solutions activities. The group has maintained an innovation and research dimension through Puleva Biotech, which has worked on functional food products and related research. Ebro has also participated in a biofuel joint venture with Abengoa. Its geographic footprint has extended to 23 countries, combining manufacturing, distribution, branded consumer products, and private-label supply. The group’s brand strategy generally spans mainstream staples, convenience products, premium and specialty grains, organic and health-oriented variants, and culturally specific products such as basmati, jasmine, Calrose, egg noodles, and vegetable-based pasta. Ebro Foods' consumer-facing businesses compete in categories shaped by food inflation, agricultural costs, changing dietary preferences, convenience demand, and retailer bargaining power. Its products are sold through supermarkets, mass merchants, foodservice channels, and other retail formats. The company's scale gives it access to multiple sourcing regions and markets, while its branded portfolio allows it to differentiate rice and pasta products by variety, preparation method, origin, nutrition, and cooking convenience. Ebro remains an active listed food group, although individual brands and divisions have changed as the company has periodically sold businesses considered less central to its long-term strategy.
History
Ebro Foods is the modern successor to a Spanish food group historically known as Ebro Puleva. Its corporate development has involved the assembly and later rationalization of businesses across several food categories. In the mid-2000s, the group disposed of Catesa Foods, a Tenerife business focused on tropical fruit, flowers, and ornamental plants. It also began reshaping its Spanish portfolio by exiting sugar and dairy. The sugar business was sold in 2009 to British Sugar, part of Associated British Foods. In March 2010, Ebro sold its value-added dairy division to Lactalis in a transaction reported at €630 million. These disposals reduced the group's exposure to businesses outside its emerging strategic focus. Rice and pasta subsequently became the central pillars of Ebro's international expansion. The company entered the United States in 2004 by acquiring Riviana Foods, a Houston-based rice producer with a long history rooted in the Louisiana rice-milling industry. Riviana's heritage traced back to the Louisiana State Rice Milling Company, formed in 1911, and its later combination with River Brand Rice Mills in 1965. Under Ebro's ownership, the U.S. platform expanded substantially. In 2006, Ebro acquired New World Pasta, adding a broad collection of established American pasta brands. Riviana acquired American Rice in 2011, bringing additional rice labels into the group, and purchased RiceSelect from RiceTec in 2015. The three U.S. operations were consolidated under Riviana Foods in 2017. This created a large rice and pasta organization with brands serving national, regional, specialty, and private-label markets. Its rice portfolio included Mahatma, Carolina, Minute Rice, Success, Adolphus, Blue Ribbon, Comet, Gourmet House, RiceSelect, Sello Rojo, Tilda, Water Maid, River Rice, Wonder, and other labels. Its pasta portfolio included Ronzoni, American Beauty, No Yolks, Skinner, Creamette, Light 'n Fluffy, Mrs. Weiss', Prince, San Giorgio, and Wacky Mac. Many of these brands entered the organization through earlier acquisitions by Riviana, American Rice, or New World Pasta. Ebro also broadened its international rice presence. Tilda, established in 1970 and associated particularly with basmati rice, was sold by Hain Celestial to Ebro in August 2019. The acquisition added a premium and internationally recognized rice brand to Ebro's portfolio. In Europe and Mediterranean foods, the group operated Panzani and related businesses, alongside brands such as Riso Gallo. In June 2021, Ebro announced the sale of the Panzani and Ferrero-branded businesses to CVC Capital Partners for €550 million. The transaction represented a continued portfolio-management approach, in which Ebro concentrated on businesses judged to offer stronger strategic fit. Beyond its core consumer brands, Ebro has maintained research capabilities through Puleva Biotech, which has worked on functional foods and new product development. The group has also had a biofuel joint venture with Abengoa. Its activities have extended across 23 countries, combining branded products, manufacturing, foodservice, retail, and private-label supply. The company has used product innovation to address convenience and health trends, including instant rice, microwaveable rice cups, specialty grains, quinoa, organic variants, gluten-free or vegetable-oriented pasta products, and sauces. Ebro's history therefore reflects a transition from a broader Spanish food conglomerate into a more focused international rice and pasta group. Acquisitions supplied geographic reach and recognizable brands, while disposals of sugar, dairy, tropical agriculture, and selected branded businesses helped refine the portfolio. The company continues to operate as a listed Spanish food group, with its competitive position based on scale, brand breadth, category expertise, and international distribution.
- 2021
Panzani and related business sale announced
[1]Ebro announced the sale of Panzani and related Ferrero-branded businesses to CVC Capital Partners for €550 million.
- 2019
Acquisition of Tilda
[1]Ebro acquired Tilda from Hain Celestial, expanding its premium and basmati rice presence.
- 2017
U.S. businesses consolidated under Riviana
[1]Riviana Foods, American Rice, and New World Pasta were combined under the Riviana Foods name.
- 2015
RiceSelect acquisition
[1]Riviana purchased RiceSelect from RiceTec, adding rice, quinoa, and pasta products including Texmati.
- 2011
American Rice acquisition
[1]Riviana acquired American Rice, adding brands such as Comet and Blue Ribbon to Ebro's U.S. rice portfolio.
- 2010
Dairy business sold to Lactalis
[1]Ebro disposed of its value-added dairy business in a sale to Lactalis reported at €630 million.
- 2009
Sugar business divestment
[1]Ebro sold its sugar division to British Sugar, a subsidiary of Associated British Foods.
- 2006
Acquisition of New World Pasta
[1]Ebro acquired New World Pasta, adding important U.S. pasta brands and strengthening its North American consumer-foods business.
- 2005
Sale of Catesa Foods
[1]Ebro sold Catesa Foods, a Tenerife-based business involved in tropical fruits, flowers, and ornamental plants.
- 2004
Entry into the United States through Riviana
[1]Ebro Foods entered the U.S. market by acquiring Houston-based Riviana Foods, creating the foundation for a major North American rice and pasta platform.
Products and positioning
An international branded-staples group combining large-scale rice and pasta operations with convenience, premium, specialty, and value-added food products.
Rice · 1932
Mahatma Rice
A U.S. rice brand introduced nationally in the 1930s. Its range includes white, parboiled, brown, organic, yellow, wild, basmati, jasmine, and short-grain varieties, with rice sourced from U.S. growing regions and selected international origins.
Instant rice · 1941
Minute Rice
A convenience-oriented rice brand based on precooking and dehydration technology. Its portfolio includes boxed instant rice, brown rice, multiple grain varieties, microwaveable ready-to-serve cups, and quinoa products.
Rice · 1977
Success Rice
A boil-in-bag rice brand launched by Riviana in 1977. Products include white, brown, basmati, and jasmine rice, as well as later extensions into convenient grain and quinoa formats.
Premium rice · 1970
Tilda
An international rice brand particularly associated with basmati and premium rice products. Ebro acquired the business from Hain Celestial in 2019, adding a strong specialty-rice platform to its global portfolio.
Specialty grains
RiceSelect
A specialty-food range acquired by Riviana in 2015. It includes rice, quinoa, and pasta, with products such as Texmati, an aromatic rice developed for cultivation in Texas.
Pasta · 1918
Ronzoni
A historic American pasta brand offering conventional pasta as well as newer varieties such as vegetable-based SuperGreens and turmeric pasta. The brand was acquired by Ebro through New World Pasta but was announced for sale to 8th Avenue Food & Provisions in 2021.
Rice and pasta portfolio · 1911
Riviana Foods
Ebro's principal U.S. operating platform. Following the 2017 consolidation of Riviana, American Rice, and New World Pasta, it combined large rice and pasta manufacturing and marketing operations across national, regional, specialty, and private-label categories.
Rice and prepared foods
Riso Gallo
An established rice brand associated with Italian and Mediterranean cooking. It has been part of Ebro's broader branded rice and meal-solutions portfolio.
Pasta and sauces
Panzani
A major French pasta and food brand that was described as a market leader in France. Ebro announced the sale of the Panzani and related Ferrero-branded businesses to CVC Capital Partners in 2021.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Houston Food Bank rice donation
United States
Ebro brands, including Minute Rice and Mahatma Rice, donated approximately 55,000 pounds of rice to the Houston Food Bank.
Outcome. The donation supported food-bank distribution in Houston.
Brand decisions
2021
Sale of Panzani and related businessesM&ABackground
Ebro continued to manage its portfolio by prioritizing selected rice, pasta, and food-solutions activities.
Action taken
The company announced the sale of Panzani and related Ferrero-branded businesses to CVC Capital Partners.
Aftermath
The transaction represented a further divestment of selected branded-food assets and portfolio simplification.
Reported transaction value. €550 million (June 2021 announcement)
2021
Ronzoni sale announcedOtherBackground
Ronzoni was part of Ebro's U.S. pasta portfolio through New World Pasta and Riviana.
Action taken
8th Avenue Food & Provisions, a subsidiary of Post Holdings, announced an agreement to acquire Ronzoni from Ebro.
Aftermath
The announced transaction was valued at $95 million and was subject to regulatory approval.
Announced transaction value. $95 million (March 29, 2021 announcement)
2017
Consolidation of U.S. rice and pasta operationsStrategyBackground
Ebro's U.S. activities were distributed across Riviana Foods, American Rice, and New World Pasta.
Action taken
The three businesses were united under the Riviana Foods name.
Aftermath
The consolidation created a larger integrated U.S. platform covering rice, pasta, branded products, and private-label manufacturing.
2010
Sale of dairy business to LactalisStrategyBackground
Ebro had been a major Spanish producer of value-added dairy products but was refocusing on rice and pasta.
Action taken
The dairy unit was sold to Lactalis for a reported €630 million.
Aftermath
The transaction further narrowed Ebro's business toward branded staple foods and away from dairy.
Reported transaction value. €630 million (March 2010)
2009
Exit from sugar operationsStrategyBackground
Ebro was historically Spain's largest sugar producer but increasingly focused its portfolio on rice, pasta, and other branded foods.
Action taken
The sugar division was sold to British Sugar, part of Associated British Foods.
Aftermath
The disposal reduced Ebro's exposure to sugar and supported its strategic concentration on other food categories.
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