SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- RiceBran Technologies (NASDAQ: RIBT and RIBTW) (the "Company" or "RBT"), a global leader in the production and marketing of value added products derived from rice bran, today announced an additional expansion at its Healthy Natural, Inc. plant in Irving, Texas. This second expansion will install capacity for the expanded production of nutricosmetics and personal care products.

As announced in September 2014, the Company completed development of a series of rice bran-based products targeting the nutricosmetics and personal care markets. The expansion project will start in Q4 2014 and is expected to be completed before the end of Q2 2015. 

RiceBran Technologies completed the first expansion project to more than double powdered beverage production capacity at Healthy Natural in July 2014. That expansion increased Healthy Natural's manufacturing footprint to more than 45,000 square feet with a monthly capacity to produce up to 400,000 canisters and gusseted bags. Additionally, the expansion allows for monthly output of up to 3 million single serve powdered beverage bottles. 

Senior Vice President of contract manufacturing Mark McKnight commented "With the completion of the first stage expansion at our Irving, Texas manufacturing facility this past July, we are poised to take further advantage of the continued increase in demand for our non-GMO, gluten free, all natural, and minimally processed products. In addition, we are now embarking on a second expansion at Healthy Natural focused on nutricosmetics, a new and rapidly growing area of the cosmetics market and personal care industry. Rice bran is rich in nutrients and has applications across multiple finished goods vertical markets. We are working diligently to build these verticals into strong drivers of growth for our Company for years to come."

About RiceBran Technologies

RiceBran Technologies is a human food ingredient and animal nutrition company focused on the procurement, bio-refining and marketing of numerous products derived from rice bran. Rice Bran Technologies has proprietary and patented intellectual property that allows us to convert rice bran, one of the world's most underutilized food sources, into a number of highly nutritious human food ingredient and animal nutrition products. Our target markets are human food ingredients and animal nutrition manufacturers and retailers, as well as natural food, functional food and nutraceutical supplement manufacturers and retailers, both domestically and internationally. More information can be found in our filings with the SEC and by visiting our website at www.ricebrantech.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements about RiceBran Technologies' expectations regarding sales its sales, expanded production capacity, revenue and growth of nutricosmetics and personal care products through its Healthy Natural, Inc. subsidiary's expanded facilities. These statements are made based upon current expectations that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties.  RiceBran Technologies does not undertake to update forward-looking statements in this news release to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking information.  Assumptions and other information that could cause results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking information can be found in RiceBran Technologies' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent periodic reports. 

Investor Contact

Ascendant Partners, LLC
Fred Sommer
+1-732-410-9810
fred@ascendantpartnersllc.com

SOURCE RiceBran Technologies