Ardent Mills has added a retail packer to its existing operations at its mill in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, to expand its services to customers on the East coast. The mill produces small pack options such as 2, 5 and 10-pound bags.
It has also added another retail line at its Newton, Kansas, facility.
The company has also ordered three retail packers – one new line that will be fully functional next month, with another two coming online in early 2021 to upgrade existing lines.
The new lines will further increase the company’s production capabilities to ensure demand for flour by home bakers – a trend that saw a spike thanks to the coronavirus lockdown – continues to be met. The company’s customer-focused strategy allowed it to quickly adjust operations and creatively solve short-term retail needs to ensure flour availability at the height of the pandemic.
Finally, to ensure seamless customer interaction, the company has put in place a dedicated retail team. This year, the team added warehouses for several of the company’s retail mills across North America to ensure supply continuity and timeliness of shipments
“These significant investments will position us well and provide the necessary flexibility to serve our customers and consumers,” said Angie Goldberg, chief growth officer at Ardent Mills.
“We’re excited about how quickly we’ve been able to execute on our growth strategy and look forward to continuing this work.”
Ardent Mills’ operations are supported by more than 35 flour mills, a specialty bakery, a mix facility and a quinoa processing plant located in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. The company employs more than 100 certified millers, supporting thousands of local jobs and significantly contributing to local economies.
