Fifth generation for the largest family-owned, privately held miller in the U.S.
WINONA, Minn. — This year (2024) marks 125 years of business and the fifth generation for Bay State Milling Company, the largest family-owned, privately held miller in the United States. According to the Family Business Consulting Group, only 3% of family-owned businesses make it beyond the fourth generation. Over the last century and a quarter, Bay State Milling has expanded beyond commodity flour to offer a wide variety of grain-based ingredients including highly innovative and nutrition-forward products like HealthSense® High-Fiber Wheat Flour and SowNaked® Mindfully Farmed Oats. The company operates 12 facilities across the U.S. and is now processing in Canada.
Founded in 1899, Bay State Milling’s flagship mill in Winona, Minn. remains the company’s largest facility and will serve as the backdrop for the kickoff of its 125th anniversary celebration. Additional events will take place at Bay State Milling facilities across the country throughout the remainder of the year to recognize this milestone and honor the employees who have built and contributed to this legacy.
“In 1899, our founder traveled by train all the way from Boston to Winona to buy a bankrupt flour mill on the banks of the Mississippi River,” said Pete Levangie, President & CEO of Bay State Milling Company. “Since then, Bay State Milling has been on a relentless pursuit to promote the growth of nutritious, sustainable and accessible ingredients within our food system. We’ve continued to innovate and create industry-leading food ingredients in response to consumer demand for variety, health, taste and affordability in their food choices. We are grateful to our dedicated team and loyal partners for helping us achieve this incredible milestone and look forward to many more years of milling excellence.”
While Bay State Milling is headquartered in Quincy, Mass., Winona is the birthplace of the company. Impressed by Minnesota’s reputation for high-quality wheat flour, the founding partners purchased Winona’s Porter Mill over a century ago – but wheat flour was just the beginning. Today the Winona mill employs 115 people to produce food ingredients including wheat flour, rye flour and HealthSense® High-Fiber Wheat Flour, the first and only high-fiber white flour in North America made from a unique varietal of non-GMO high-amylose wheat.
Humans have been eating bread and other grain-based foods for more than 10,000 years, and while desired tastes and textures may change, consumers still turn to grain-based foods like bread, pasta, pizza and tortillas as staples in their daily diets. The average American consumes 130 pounds of flour every year, and nearly half of the average American’s daily calories come from carbohydrates. Bay State Milling is committed to providing grain-based solutions for affordable and accessible nutrition.
About Bay State Milling Company
For 125 years, Bay State Milling has been on a mission to increase access to nutritious, sustainable and accessible grain-based ingredients. As the largest privately held, family-owned miller in the United States, Bay State Milling operates 12 locations in the U.S. and Canada. The company’s broad portfolio of traditional and gluten-free flours, grains, seeds, mixes and blends are responsibly sourced and expertly processed to meet exacting specifications. This relentless pursuit to create a better food system has spanned five generations and continues to evolve as the way we eat changes. Bay State Milling has been named a U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte for two consecutive years and received an honorable mention in Fast Company’s 2023 World Changing Ideas Awards for its HealthSense® High-Fiber Wheat Flour. baystatemilling.com @baystatemilling
