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Miller Milling Announces Expansion of Los Angeles Facility

Project will increase operational capacity, serving flour needs of customers in the southern California market

Miller Milling Co. today announced it will expand and upgrade its Los Angeles flour mill operations, located on Ferguson Drive in Commerce, Calif.

The project, set to be completed and operational in early 2024, will include the expansion of its mill operations by 2,500 cwts of flour per day, increasing total capacity to 16,500 cwts, representing an 18% increase in production capacity. The Los Angeles site services a variety of customers today with high-quality hard and soft wheat flour.

“The expansion to our Los Angeles mill will help better serve the growing needs of both existing and new customers in the region,” said Taku Mitani, CEO of Miller Milling. “Increasing production capacity close to customers, distributors and consumers has always been the mission of Miller Milling and we’re proud to extend our reach even further in southern California with these planned updates. Consistently updating our facilities with up-to-date technology ensures we are able to remain a leader in flour operations.”

The expansion will include new state-of-the-art equipment as well as the installation of an additional temper bin. The mill will also be converted to the newest automation technology to collect and analyze data throughout the milling process, providing additional insight into production capacity. Recently, Miller Milling also installed a new bulk flour loadout facility to further enhance the company’s commitment to food safety.

MEDIA CONTACT:
William Untereker
Director of Legal & PR
Miller Milling
Will.Untereker@MillerMilling.com

Miller Milling Leadership Promotions

Miller Milling Co. on Dec. 20 announced the promotion of Ben Oertel to Chief Financial Officer, Kevin Sebby to Vice President, Sales, and Kyle Shermock to Vice President, Supply Chain and Corporate Planning.

“As Miller Milling continues to focus on our growth and long-term strategy, it is imperative that we continue to build a Senior Leadership Team focused on inspiring people, communicating a shared vision, and empowering our team members,” said Taku Mitani, President and Chief Executive Officer of Miller Milling. “Their individual talents complement extremely well, and they have become a key part of our success. We are thrilled to promote them into these important leadership positions.”

Oertel joined Miller Milling in 2019 with 16 years of experience in Financial and Accounting Leadership Positions. During his two-year tenure, he has driven numerous improvements to Miller Milling’s Financial, Budgeting and Production Analysis Processes. He received a master’s degree in Business Administration from Hamline University in 2011.

Sebby joined Miller Milling’s Flour Sales Team in 2009 and began leading the team in 2020. Under Sebby’s leadership, the Sales Team has overcome the current market challenges and uncertainty to deliver consistently successful performance, according to Miller Milling. Prior to joining Miller Milling, Sebby worked as a Market Analystand as a Commodity Broker. Sebby also serves on board of the Allied Trades to the Baking Industry.

Shermock joined Miller Milling in 2014 after working in other large food companies in Merchandiser and Procurement Leadership Roles. Shermock will lead Miller Milling’s overall strategy and vision for the Merchandising and Outbound Transportation Teams in addition to managing new business opportunities with strategic partnerships. He received a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota in 2015 and currently serves on the board of directors for the National Grain and Feed Association.

Founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US in 1985, Miller Milling has been a leader in the US Milling Industry. The company got its start providing durum semolina to large customers through regional destination mills. In 2012, Miller Milling became a part of the Nisshin Seifun Group of Japan.

Miller Milling operates five strategically located facilities in the United States and ranks fifth in the nation in Daily Flour Production Capacity at 86,600 cwts, according to Sosland Publishing Co.’s 2022 Grain & Milling Annual. Its largest mill is in Winchester, Virginia, US, which is the country’s 10th largest mill with a daily production capacity of 26,500 cwts.

Media Contact:
William Untereker
Corporate Secretary
Miller Milling Company
952-562-2304

Miller Milling to Enter Organic Wheat Flour Market

Miller Milling Co., the fourth largest wheat flour miller by volume in the United States, has decided to enter the organic wheat flour market.

The company announced on March 4 that it has achieved an organic certification at its Fresno, California, U.S. facility, and may soon add other locations.

“We are excited that Miller Milling Company, LLC now has the ability and opportunity to serve our customers’ organic flour needs,” said Jeff Thomas, president and chief executive officer. “Through the launch of Miller’s Yosemite Organics flour product line, we will be able to meet customer demands for consistent, high quality organic wheat flours through leveraging our strategic mill locations and supply chain, building on Miller’s legacy of excellent product quality and customer service.

“We are committed to the growth and development of the Yosemite Organics product line across our California network and will expand our organic offerings elsewhere, pending customer needs and opportunities.”

Miller Milling Co. will be officially launching its Yosemite Organics brand at the Natural Products Expo West on March 5 in Anaheim, California, U.S. Its sales team will be located at booth 9203 at the event.

Through this product line, Miller Milling said it will have bread, bakers, and tortilla flour available, as well as whole wheat flours in a high and low protein offering. It also will have organic semolina and durum flour available.

According to Sosland Publishing Company’s 2019 Grain & Milling Annual, Miller Milling’s daily milling production capacity is 106,000 cwts. It operates six wheat flour mills, two durum mills and one barley mill in the United States.

On March 1, Miller Milling’s parent company, Tokyo, Japan-based Nisshin Seifun Group Inc., announced an agreement to acquire Australia’s Allied Pinnacle from Pacific Equity Partners, a move that Nisshin said will make it the largest flour milling company in Oceania. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, though media reports suggested the deal was valued at just under A$1 billion ($710.5 million).

Based in Rhodes, Australia, Allied Pinnacle is Australia’s largest end-to-end bakery ingredient supplier with a strong presence in flour, premixes and prepared bakery products.

Donley, Arvin. “Miller Milling to enter organic wheat flour market.” World-Grain.com (blog), March 4, 2019.

Media contact:
Jeff Thomas
Miller Milling CEO
(952) 562-2252

Jeffrey Hole Named Miller Milling Vice President for Operations

Miller Milling Company, one of the largest flour milling companies in the U.S., today announced that Jeffrey Hole, previously director of milling for Grain Craft in Mission, Kansas, has been named to the position of vice president of operations. He succeeds Jeffrey Thomas, who has been named the Company’s president and CEO.

The Company issued the following comment:

“We’re pleased that Jeff is joining our Company. He has an extensive record of accomplishment and experience in the milling industry and will apply those assets to make sure our customers receive the quality, reliability and service they – and we – expect. He is joining a strong and capable management team and his commitment to putting customers first matches our own.”

For more than two decades, Hole has held a variety of production and managerial positions in the milling industry, including head miller, milling superintendent, plant manager, and director of plant administration for Cereal Food Processors, Inc., milling superintendent at Grain Millers, Inc. and director of milling for Grain Craft.

Hole currently serves as vice president of the International Association of Operative Millers where he is responsible for overseeing preparations for the Association’s 2018 conference in Atlanta, Georgia. He is expected to serve as the Association’s president from 2018-2019.

Hole earned a bachelor’s degree in milling science and a master’s degree in agribusiness at Kansas State University, in Manhattan, Kansas and is a native of Wichita, Kansas.

Media contact:
David Hegewald
Vice President – Administration
Miller Milling
(952) 826-6331