Western Foods plans to expand into a new 56,000-square-foot facility located in Pine Bluff, Ark.

WOODLAND, CALIF. — Western Foods, L.L.C. is increasing its gluten-free rice flour and ancient grain milling business by expanding into a new 56,000-square-foot facility located in Pine Bluff, Ark. The new mill will be fully operational in the spring of 2018. The flour mill will be located on a nine-acre lot that leaves room for future growth.

The new facility will have a multi-modal transportation system, including 2 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, Ark., and 137 miles from Memphis, Tenn.

“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,” said Tom Andringa, vice-president of sales and business development.

The Delta Region facility will expand Western Foods’ position in the long grain rice flour market.

The Delta Region facility will expand Western Foods’ position in the long grain rice flour market and allow the company to better serve its Midwest and East coast customers, the company said.

“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,” said Miguel Reyna, president and chief executive officer of Western Foods. “Our parent company, Western Milling, has been incredibly supportive during this exciting next phase of W.F.’s growth in the gluten-free ingredients marketplace.”

With more than 50 years of combined experience in the rice and grain milling industry, Western Foods offers organic products such as rice flours, non-G.M.O. corn, buckwheat, sorghum, gluten-free quinoa, gluten-free oats, amaranth millet, ancient grains, chia, millet, flaxseed, lupin corn starches and tapioca.

Western Foods's new facility will increase its gluten-free rice flour and ancient grain milling business.

The company specializes in providing customized products and granulations for its domestic and international customers in the baking and snack industries, dietary supplement and nutraceutical industries, as well as the alternative beverage and baby food industries.

Western Foods’ parent company, Western Milling, is based in Goshen, Calif., and is one of the largest privately held feed companies in the world. The company works with more than 1,000 dairy operations, supplying custom feed solutions.