USA – North America’s leading flour supplier, Ardent Mills has unveiled plans to expand flour milling and production capabilities at its Denver mill in the United States.

In addition to flour milling, the company will clean and pack intact grains, pearl barley and dehull heirloom grains like emmer, einkorn and spelt, according to World Grain report.

More farmers are seeking to bring these grains to market, according to Ardent Mills, and the company is seeing increasing demand from its customers in segments such as artisan baking, brewing and distilling, food service, and retail foods.

The mill, which is in the River North Art District (RiNo) of Denver, will produce and clean organic and non-bioengineered/non-GMO grains and sell them nationwide in 25-pound and 50-pound bags and totes.

With 5,000 cwts of daily milling capacity, the facility is the smaller of two flour mills Ardent Mills operates in the Denver area.

The second, located in Commerce City, has 20,000 cwts of daily milling capacity and includes family flour packaging, bakery mix manufacturing and a specialty mill that produces baker’s brand and mills whole wheat flour.

The RiNo mill’s new processing capabilities will support The Annex by Ardent Mills, a business unit that Ardent Mills set up last year to cultivate the future of specialty grains and plant-based ingredients.

“Our first year has been wrapped in innovation,” said Shrene White, director of The Annex.

“We have listened to our customers, worked closely with our farmers and evaluated the future of the markets we can serve.

“Through the organic-certified mill, we are helping our customers bring these grains to life as their source for dependable, food-safe, high-quality intact grains.”

The announcement comes after Ardent Mills unveiled plans to close four U.S. flour mills to reflect market flour demand prospects as well as enhance efficiency.

The mills to be closed are located in Macon, Georgia, U.S.; Rush City, Minnesota, U.S.; Loudonville, Ohio, U.S.; and Red Lion, Pennsylvania, U.S. and according to World Grain, they have a combined milling capacity of 23,600 cwts.