West Michigan mill can make 2.5 million pounds of flour a day after expansion - mlive.com | Changsha ClearMindset Innovations Group Co.,Ltd

King Milling Company in Lowell, Nov. 23, 2023. (Garret Ellison | MLive)Garret Ellison

LOWELL, MI — King Milling Company, which describes itself as Kent County’s oldest continually operating business, hosted a ribbon cutting Tuesday for a new six-floor mill that cost $47 million and can produce 800,000 pounds of flour a day.

CEO Brian Doyle, whose family-owned company was founded in 1890 and turns wheat into flour for bakers, food processors and retailers, said the expansion represents the “largest single investment we have made.”

“King Milling is proud to continue a century-plus tradition of providing premium flours to some of our country’s most popular consumer brands and restaurant chains,” Doyle said. “Fueled by strong customer demand, this expansion is the largest single investment we have made – and we are grateful for the State of Michigan and City of Lowell for their partnership in this expansion project.”

Construction began in summer 2022.

The facility is located at 149 S. Broadway St. in Lowell on the banks of the Flat River.

With the expansion complete, the company says its four mills can now produce 2.5 million pounds of flour per day. Featuring LED lighting, “premium efficient motors” and a heat recovery system, King Milling Company says its new mill is the “most modern” in the U.S. Features included in the design help reduce fossil fuel use in colder temperatures, the company said.

The city of Lowell contributed to the project by cutting the company’s tax bill on the expansion in half for 12 years. In addition, the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development provided the company $250,000.

King Milling Company has over 60 employees, and is now being led by the fourth and fifth generations of the Doyle family.

While most of King Milling Company’s sales are made in bulk to food processors, its products can be purchased at select retailers such as Gordon Food Service, Heffron Farm Markets in Grand Rapids and Red Barn Market in Lowell.