Western Foods set to open gluten-free mill in Arkansas

01 Aug 2017 --- Western Foods, LLC, (WF) is increasing its gluten-free rice flour and ancient grain milling business by expanding into a new 56,000 square ft. facility located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The new state-of-the-art, dedicated gluten-free, Japanese style mill will be fully operational in the spring of 2018.

The flour mill will be located on a 9-acre lot within Jefferson County Industrial Park in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas area. The plant has ample room for future growth. 

WF’s new Delta Region facility, in the central US, has an excellent multi-modal transportation system, including two rail lines (Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific), 13 common freight carriers with 5 terminals, and the Port of Pine Bluff, a slack water harbor located on the Arkansas River. Pine Bluff is 38 miles from Little Rock, AR and 137 miles from Memphis, TN. 

WF’s growth over the last five years has enabled the imminent expansion into Arkansas. The Delta Region facility will expand WF’s position in the long grain rice flour market and allow WF to better serve its Midwest and east coast customers. “By opening our second mill in Pine Bluff, we will have an excellent logistical flow to important markets such as Chicago only 10 hours away by truck,” says Tom Andringa, Vice President of Sales and Business Development.    

Miguel Reyna, WF’s President and Chief Executive Officer added: “We look forward to a long and rewarding relationship with the Jefferson County Alliance, becoming a respected employer in the Pine Bluff area and playing a significant role in the local community.”  He continued: “Our parent company, Western Milling, has been incredibly supportive during this exciting next phase of WF’s growth in the gluten-free ingredients market place.”