KENT acquires flour manufacturing facility, launches science complex at Iowa State University 

USA – Grain Processing Corp. (GPC), a member of the KENT Corp. group of companies based in Muscatine, Iowa, has acquired a flour manufacturing and warehouse facility located in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

GPC’s primary products include high-purity alcohols, corn starches, maltodextrins, and corn syrup solids. The company also has soy and chickpea milling operations in Grinnell, Iowa.

According to the company, this acquisition is building upon the success of its current soy and chickpea milling operations, further enhancing its longstanding reputation for offering innovative, high-quality, plant-based ingredients.

“As we pursue our vision to continue expanding to meet the desires and dietary requirements of a consistently growing world population, I am excited to be adding this facility to our footprint,” said Jimmy Kent, President of GPC.

“We will better leverage our soy and chickpea flour production capabilities while further expanding our value-added milling business,” he added.

The 64,000-square-foot production and seed cleaning facility is situated on 35 acres, providing ample space for future expansion, diversification of product offerings, and strategic vertical integration with other KENT businesses in the vicinity.

The GPC Oskaloosa milling operation will facilitate future growth in the plant-based, clean-label market categories.

KENT to celebrate the grand opening of the Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex

This Friday, KENT Corporation will celebrate the grand opening of the Iowa State University KENT Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex, to which the family-owned company gave a leading gift of US$8 million.

“The contribution celebrates a 100-year commitment to the success of generations of people involved in livestock production and agriculture… This complex is a hands-on platform to further advance innovation and sustainability for future leaders in feed and grain processing,” said Gage Kent, Chairman and CEO of KENT Corporation.

The 47,000-square-foot complex includes a warehouse and an educational building. The educational building is equipped with an analytical laboratory, a pilot plant, a 100-foot-tall concrete milling tower, a 40-foot-tall pelleting plant, and 220,000 bushels of steel grain storage with handling and drying systems.

“It is incredibly rewarding to have been part of this project because we, at KENT Nutrition Group, know that it will provide an authentic, challenging, and fun learning environment for students and industry professionals,” said Mike Gauss, President of KENT Nutrition Group.

As the demand for transporting grains from Field to Family™ continues to increase, the Iowa State University KENT Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex will equip the next generation of workers with advanced technology to improve efficiency and safety.