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Our Story

How Nexcel Oils Came to Be

Rooted in Integrity, Evolving with Purpose

Nexcel Oils traces its heritage back to 1973, when our founders began their journey in the health and grocery retail industry under the name BatterLite Foods. From the start, their mission was to create better food choices — manufacturing dietetic and health-focused products that inspired trust and wellness in the everyday consumer.


In 1987, the company introduced Pritikin Foods to the marketplace, marking a new era of innovation and growth. With this evolution came a new name — TKI Foods — and a renewed focus on bringing better nutrition to retail shelves.


By 1989, our expertise in sweeteners and sugar substitutes opened the door to the private-label and store-brand industry. Within a decade, TKI Foods had become one of North America’s most recognized suppliers, serving over 96% of retailers across the U.S., Canada, and parts of South America. This success was built on simple but lasting principles: excellent customer service, loyalty to our partners, and an unwavering commitment to quality — values that still define us today.


In 1999, TKI Foods sold its private-label business to a larger retail manufacturer expanding its distribution network. Yet the entrepreneurial spirit of our founders continued. By 2000, they reunited key team members and reignited their passion for creating trusted, high-quality food ingredients. Out of that vision, Nexcel Natural Ingredients was born — a company focused on selling Non-GMO Soybean Oil and Non-GMO Soy Proteins. In 2003, Nexcel sold its first pound of expeller-pressed, Non-GMO Soybean Oil, setting the stage for a new chapter in the company’s evolution.

 

Expanding into Organic and Non-GMO Oils

As interest in cleaner, more traceable food ingredients grew, Nexcel continued to evolve. In 2005, the company introduced its first Organic Soybean Oil, building on the success of its Non-GMO offerings. By 2006, demand for both Non-GMO and Organic Soybean Oils had outpaced supply, prompting Nexcel to develop a network of Non-GMO and Organic crush partners to produce crude Soybean Oil, which was then refined to meet food-grade standards.


By 2008, Nexcel expanded its product portfolio beyond Soybean Oil, adding Non-GMO Canola Oil and a diverse range of expeller-pressed and Organic Oils, including High-Oleic Sunflower, High-Oleic Safflower, Linoleic Safflower, and Flaxseed Oils, along with various blended formulations. This broadened capability allowed Nexcel to serve a wider spectrum of customers seeking naturally refined oils.

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NexSoy® Innovation (2004)

In 2004, Nexcel introduced NexSoy®, a breakthrough in the edible oil industry. This expeller-pressed Soybean Oil was developed as a naturally refined alternative to solvent-extracted and partially hydrogenated oils. By retaining naturally occurring antioxidants, NexSoy® delivered exceptional stability and performance without the trans fats common in traditional hydrogenated oils. It quickly became a trusted choice for food manufacturers seeking a healthier, more natural oil solution for frying, baking, and food preparation.

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Facility Expansion (2023)
Building on two decades of steady growth, Nexcel expanded its operational footprint in 2023 by purchasing a 22,000-square-foot industrial warehouse. The new facility was integrated into existing operations to support increasing customer demand for oil blending, toting, and repackaging. During this time, many customers began requesting smaller package sizes to maintain value for their end users, prompting Nexcel to scale its repack operations and expand storage for packaging materials. This investment improved production flow, increased operational flexibility, and reinforced Nexcel’s long-term commitment to meeting customer needs with efficiency and care.


Bottling Line Expansion (2025)

​In early 2025, Nexcel made a strategic investment in a state-of-the-art, high-speed bottling line designed for the Food Service and Retail/Private Label markets. This addition was a natural extension of Nexcel’s existing operations and a key differentiator for the company, allowing it to provide customers with a wide range of packaging formats including: 35-lb Jug-in-Box (JIB), one-gallon containers, and numerous retail bottle sizes in PET, HDPE, or glass. The move reconnected Nexcel with its roots in retail and private-label packaging, leveraging decades of experience to help today’s brands bring their vision to life through modern packaging that reflects quality, transparency, and better health.
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Today and Beyond

Today, Nexcel Oils stands as a trusted partner to leading Food Manufacturers, Pet Nutrition producers, Food Service distributors, Retail/Private Label brands, and Cosmetic/Personal Care manufacturers. With decades of experience, certified Non-GMO and Organic offerings, and an unwavering focus on quality and customer care, Nexcel Oils continues to grow. Each investment, from expanded blending and repack operations to the 2025 bottling line, reflects the company’s long-term commitment to helping customers bring better, healthier products to market.

Quality Assurance and Certifications

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© 2026 Nexcel Oils

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2520 South Grand Ave E

Springfield, IL. 62703

+1 (217) 391-0091

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