Horizon Milling to close 128-year-old Topeka flour mill
Date: Jan. 29, 2010
Contact: Lori Fligge, 952-742-2275, lori_fligge@cargill.com
TOPEKA, Kan. - Horizon Milling, LLC today announced that it will close its Topeka facility on or around Dec. 1, 2010. Employees were informed of the forthcoming closure today.
Company officials said that the Topeka mill, built in 1882, has served the company well, but the plant can no longer efficiently compete without extensive and costly equipment upgrades. However, Horizon Milling will continue its strategy of modernization and expansion of its key locations. Flour customers currently supplied by the Topeka mill will be supplied instead through other Horizon Milling facilities.
According to Horizon Milling president, Dan Dye, the company is continuously evaluating and upgrading the technology at its facilities. "As we looked at the antiquated Topeka mill, it made the best business sense to close the facility and focus on continued improvements in our other plants," he said.
Dye expressed gratitude to the mill's 56 employees for their contributions to Horizon Milling. "We very much appreciate their great work and commitment and will work closely with them to provide severance and work-transition assistance."
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About Horizon Milling, LLC
A leading U.S. flour miller, Horizon Milling, LLC is a joint venture between CHS Inc. (www.chsinc.com) and Cargill, Incorporated. Horizon Milling combines the expertise of a global food ingredients manufacturer with the supply assurance capabilities of a national, farmer-owned cooperative to provide customers with innovative, flour-related product and service solutions. For more information, visit http://www.horizonmilling.com.
About Cargill
Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 159,000 people in 68 countries. Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to applying its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business. For more information, visit www.cargill.com.
