World Grain - September 2024 - 30

Royal
N
by Arvin Donley
A view of the
King Milling
complex from
the Flat River.
earing its 135th year in business, King Milling
Co. is still churning out flour because it has
managed to not only survive, but thrive in the
face of what at times have been almost insurmountable
challenges.
Through five generations of leadership by the Doyle
family, the Lowell, Michigan, US-based company has
operated through two world wars, two global pandemics,
the Great Depression and the Great Recession, a
mill destroyed by fire in the mid-1940s, a 100-year
flood, and the premature death of a key company leader.
In a recent interview with World Grain, King Milling
Chairman Brian Doyle, President Jim Doyle and
Executive Vice President Patrick Doyle said the company's
success and longevity stems from never deviating
from its core principles.
" Our family motto is to try to do it the right way every
time, " said Patrick, Brian's son who represents the
fifth generation of family leadership. " It's not always
the most profitable decision, but we do it because it's
the right thing to do. The way we treat people and the
way we make decisions on investments in the company
- those things matter. "
Among those principles is to reinvest heavily in the
company, both in terms of assembling a quality workforce
and installing cutting-edge milling equipment.
Any conversation with the Doyles about the keys to
the company's longevity will start with each generation's
commitment to pour much of the profit back into
30
the business. That requires some financial sacrifice.
" We don't draw huge salaries, " Brian said. " We keep
the money right here. "
He added: " I don't know about grandpa's generation,
but our fathers both emphasized putting money back
into the business and staying current. Don't let things
get old. That's been our philosophy, too. "
The latest example of this involved the biggest investment
in company history, a $47 million expansion
that added an 8,000-cwt fourth milling line (D Mill) to
the Lowell complex, bringing total milling capacity at
the site to 25,000 cwts per day. The mill, which produces
hard, soft and whole wheat flour, now accounts for
half of the milling capacity in Michigan and is the 13th
largest mill in North America, according to Sosland
Publishing Co.'s 2024 Grain & Milling Annual.
The reason for the expansion was simple: the customer
demand for King Milling's products was outstripping
the company's production capabilities.
" We needed more flour, obviously, but we see the
fifth generation that is very capable and coming along
and we want to help them be successful, " Jim said.
Family matters
During King Milling's 125th anniversary celebration
in 2015, Brian noted that " only 33% (of family businesses)
make it to the second generation, only 11%
make it to the third generation, and only 3% make it to
the fourth. And they don't have any stats beyond that
September 2024 / World Grain / World-Grain.com
Doyle family has guided King Milling for nearly 135 years
Photos courtesy of King Milling
http://www.World-Grain.com
World Grain - September 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of World Grain - September 2024
