USA – Ardent Mills, supplier of flour and specialty products for the bakery industries is set to build a new flour mill and grain storage terminal at Port Tampa Bay, in the state of Florida.
According to Tampa Bay Times, the company plans to spend about US$62 million in the construction of the plant which will replace the old ConAgra flour mill north of Amalie Arena.
The new plant, which will have a full-time staff of 31, is expected to become operational in 2021.
“The project is expected to take 18 to 24 months and require a construction workforce of about 200,” read the Tampa Bay Times report.
“Ardent Mills, a joint venture between ConAgra and two other agribusiness companies, provided the details to the board of Port Tampa Bay, which is scheduled next week to vote on a permit for the new construction on its land.
“In December, the port’s board approved a lease with Ardent Mills for 10 acres at Port Redwing near Apollo Beach.”
In October last year, Ardent Mills announced plans to sell the property where its downtown Tampa mill is located to Strategic Property Partners for more than US$13 million.
Ardent Mills will continue to produce flour at the downtown site until the Port Tampa Bay facility is operational.
According to Sosland Publishing 2019 Grain and Milling Annual, the plant in Tampa is the largest flour mill in Florida with a daily production capacity of 14,500 cwts per day.
The state has two flour mills with an overall daily milling capacity of 27,500 cwts.
“We are committed to our expert Tampa team, the opportunity to continue to delight our customers and serve our great neighbours in Tampa and Central Florida,” Ardent Mills CEO Dan Dye said when the sale of the Tampa Mill was first announced in October.
“We have enjoyed this privilege for more than three decades and look forward to supporting the Tampa community, Central Florida and customers across the state for many decades to come with a new state-of-the-art mill capable of growing with our customers.”
