US – America’s largest independent flour miller Grain Craft has appointed Pete Frederick President and chief executive officer (CEO), effective immediately.

As president and CEO, Frederick will be responsible for setting and directing the company’s strategic and financial goals while providing visionary leadership for growth.

Frederick has held the position of president since Grain Craft was established in 2014 following the merger between Milner Milling, Pendleton Flour Mills and Cereal Food Processors, Inc.

Federick takes helm of America’s largest independent milling facility at a time when it is working to replace “high-priced” spring wheat with top quality winter wheats.

Grain Craft LLC recently announced that it had completed a test with a baking partner of flour milled from a selection of 33 preferred hard red winter wheat varieties.

Millers in the southern U.S. often use a blend of 75 percent hard winter and 25 percent hard spring wheat to make breads and buns.

But spring wheat typically costs Kansas millers about US80 cents per bushel more than hard red winter wheat and that is before the cost of shipping the product 1,300 kilometres from the upper Midwest.

Grain Craft is attempting to address that shortcoming by partnering with growers and grain companies to segregate a select group of high-performing hard red wheat varieties.

It will be the responsibility to see the effective implementation of the program which aims to eliminate spring wheat’s 25 percent share of Grain Craft flour blends in Kansas and throughout the entire southwest U.S.

Frederick had previously served as president of Milner/Pendleton since 2012 when the two millers combined their operations.

“Pete has deep industry experience and a proven track record of strong leadership,” said Charles B. Stout, chairman of Grain Craft. 

“He was instrumental in the formation of Grain Craft and seamlessly led the merger of the three companies. He recognizes the challenges we must confront and the strengths we already possess to continue to make Grain Craft a leader in the flour milling industry.”

A 35-year veteran of the flour milling industry, Frederick joined Milner Milling and Pendleton Flour Mills in 2004 as vice president of sales.

With the creation of Grain Craft, he was responsible for overseeing the integration of Cereal Foods with Milner/Pendleton, which includes 15 mills in 10 states.

Before joining Milner/Pendleton, Frederick spent 18 years at Cargill, beginning in 1986 before moving on to Horizon Milling LLC, a joint venture between Cargill and CHS Inc, where he was eastern regional sales manager.

Frederick is co-chair of the Grain Foods Foundation and holds a seat on the executive committee of the North American Millers’ Association.

Frederick received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Iowa, Iowa City.

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