MENNEL MILLING

Roanoke County recently celebrated the grand opening of the Mennel Milling Company's newest 73,480 sq. ft. milling facility, located on 27 acres just off of Starkey Road in West County.  The Mennel Milling Company has been milling soft wheat into flour in the Roanoke area for 32 years, has invested approximately $31 million in the new facility, which will more than double the production capacity of the old mill. The decision to remain in Virginia results in 33 jobs saved for the Roanoke region. Virginia successfully competed against Ohio and Tennessee for the project. 

The company mills specialty flours for Maple Leaf Foods, Nestlé, Hershey, McKee and Interbake Foods, just to name a few.  The Mennel Milling Company, based in Fostoria, Ohio, has milled wheat into specialty flours for more than 120 years and was originally founded in 1886 as Harter Milling Company. The flours are used by nationally known companies and independent bakers, and can be found in a majority of the cake mixes, cookies, snack crackers, breadings, batters, gravies, soups, ice cream cones, pretzels, oriental noodles, and regional branded breads found on grocery store shelves. Mennel Milling Company also provides flour to major mix manufacturers and bakeries that cater to the fast food and restaurant trade.

Mennel, which mills one-third of a variety of soft red winter wheat produced by Virginia’s wheat farmers, is a key contributor to Virginia’s agricultural success.  “Mennel Milling plays a critical role in Virginia agribusiness, having worked successfully with Virginia wheat farmers, farm organizations and Virginia Tech small grain specialists in the development of innovative, specialty value-added wheat varieties and production systems. We view this new mill as a major investment for Virginia agriculture and look forward to the great opportunity it presents for our future,” said Robert S. Bloxom, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry.

“We are extremely pleased to be able to stay in Virginia and in the Roanoke Valley so that we can retain our local workforce and continue to grow with our current customers,” said Don Mennel, President, The Mennel Milling Company. “Virginia's pro-business climate and transportation infrastructure are major contributors to our decision to stay.”  

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Roanoke County, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to negotiate a state incentive package and secure the project for Virginia. Governor Kaine approved a $250,000 performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership (VIP) program, an incentive available to existing Virginia companies. The company has also obtained rail access funding through the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to assist with the development.  

"We are pleased to partner with Mennel Milling as they expand their operations in Roanoke County,” said Elmer Hodge, Roanoke County Administrator. “The company has been a quality employer in the Roanoke Valley for decades, and this new investment will assist with retaining jobs for the region and Virginia."