The flour milling business is exactly the type of entrepreneurship that is always in high demand and can generate profit for many years. At the same time, it is highly competitive. Therefore, if you decide to start a flour milling enterprise, take several important steps described below.
Conduct a detailed market study, determine the demand for flour and the level of competition in your region. This is especially relevant for alternative types of flour, which vary from country to country. For example, in Ukraine, these include corn, buckwheat, rice, and pea flour.
Develop a business plan that outlines your strategy, goals, and financial forecasts. It will become your roadmap for business development.
The most popular methods of flour production are stone mills and roller mills. These methods differ in technological processes, financial costs, and the quality of the resulting flour. Stone mills are compact, more affordable, and consume less electricity. Flour produced using stone mills has excellent baking qualities, a rich natural taste and aroma, and contains fiber and beneficial nutrients.
You’ll also need grain cleaning and transportation systems, storage containers, and packaging lines.
Decide where and how your business will obtain grain for flour production.This can involve purchasing from local farms or working with large suppliers.
Create a brand and develop a marketing strategy. Determine how you will promote your products on the domestic market and, if necessary, for export. Stone-ground flour opens up great opportunities for your marketing team, as it is a high-quality, wholesome product with a distinctive character and centuries-old traditions.
Decide where and how you will sell your flour: through retail chains, small stores, farmers' markets, online, etc.
Determine your business’s sources of funding, such as personal funds, loans, or investments. By the way, entrepreneurs can receive grants — non-repayable financial assistance — to purchase Ukrainian mills from The Miller.
Of course, constantly study the market and analyze your business results to adjust your strategy as needed.
1. Capacity
Consider how many kilograms of grain you plan to process daily. Choose equipment that meets your capacity needs. The Miller mills have a capacity of up to 250 kg/hour.
2. Type of flour
If you plan to produce only whole grain flour, choose a mill without a sifting machine. To separate flour into fractions, you will need it. By the way, a sifter can be purchased separately.
3. Adjustability
It’s important that the mill allows you to adjust the fineness of the grind. The Miller mills feature grind size adjustment systems, and the included sifters come with interchangeable sieves of different mesh sizes.
4. Technical support and service
When choosing a mill, make sure you receive proper technical support and access to service, as the equipment may require maintenance and repairs. The Miller team provides both warranty and post-warranty service in Ukraine and beyond
