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Who Is Continental Mills?

When you hear the name Continental Mills, it might not sound familiar at first, but what if we asked if you’d ever tried Krusteaz Pancake mix? If you answered yes, now you know part of the story! But that’s not all…we are a Seattle-based, family-owned business that was started in 1932 by an innovative woman named Rose Charters who had a clever idea for a just-add-water Pie Crust mix. Rose and her husband, James Charters, started selling the mix to friends, neighbors and local cafes. They quickly outgrew their home kitchen and soon opened the first manufacturing plant in Seattle. This led to our first brand, Krusteaz (easy- crust), and we’ve never stopped innovating since!

  • Since1932

  • 1932

  • 1940

  • 1962

  • 1970

  • 1975

  • 1980

  • 1999

  • 2008

  • 2012

  • 2013

  • Today

At Continental Mills, we've been delivering home baked goodness through the convenience of quick mixes for almost 90 years.
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At Continental Mills, we've been delivering home baked goodness through the convenience of quick mixes for almost 90 years. The same innovative spirit that started with the first easy pie crust mix created in a Northwest kitchen in 1932 continues to guide our efforts.
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The story began in 1932 when Rose Charters decided to tackle the challenge of making the perfect, easy-to-prepare pie crust.  She called her product
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The story began in 1932 when Rose Charters decided to tackle the challenge of making the perfect, easy-to-prepare pie crust.  She called her product Krusteaz pie crust (cleverly combining “crust” and “ease”).  Rose and her husband James started selling the mix to friends, neighbors and local cafes. They quickly outgrew their home kitchen and soon opened the first manufacturing plant in Seattle. (Photo is a reenactment of Rose and her friends enjoying delicious pie).
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The product line grew to include Krusteaz (just-add-water) Buttermilk Pancake Mix, formulated at the University of Washington Home Economics
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The product line grew to include Krusteaz (just-add-water) Buttermilk Pancake Mix, formulated at the University of Washington Home Economics department.
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Two-thirds of our business supported the military troops and one-third of our business was delivering Krusteaz brand products exclusively to customers
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Two-thirds of our business supported the military troops and one-third of our business was delivering Krusteaz brand products exclusively to customers in the Pacific Northwest. Continental Mills needed more space to support its growing business, so manufacturing was moved to a 30,000 sq. ft. building near Boeing Field on Corgiat Avenue, the first full scale plant!
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The marketing budget wasn’t large, and the team got creative. ‘Krusteaz Kurtesy Kitchen’ van, equipped with stoves, tables, chairs, plates,
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The marketing budget wasn’t large, and the team got creative. ‘Krusteaz Kurtesy Kitchen’ van, equipped with stoves, tables, chairs, plates, napkins, silverware, etc., was designed to promote the Krusteaz (just-add-water) Buttermilk Pancake Mix throughout the Northwest…even before the popularity of food trucks began!
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John Heily Jr. became President, taking over from his father John Heily Sr. Oil exploration and the Alaska Pipeline project were well underway and
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John Heily Jr. became President, taking over from his father John Heily Sr. Oil exploration and the Alaska Pipeline project were well underway and CM obtained exclusive rights to sell bakery products to a workforce of 40,000+ men. The opportunity arose to expand from just pancake and biscuit mixes to a full line of cakes, muffins, breads, and desserts. As business grew the Foodservice division was created and a manufacturing plant was built in Kent, WA to support the expanding business.
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Continental Mills began selling Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake Mix at Costco club stores, making CM one of Costco’s first customers. In 1985, the
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Continental Mills began selling Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake Mix at Costco club stores, making CM one of Costco’s first customers. In 1985, the Club/Specialty Division was formed, developing highly successful products for Costco. Even today, we are very focused on partnering with our customers to bring great products to market.
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Leaders at Continental Mills knew that expanding east was critical to growth, and built a manufacturing plant in Hopkinsville, KY to support its
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Leaders at Continental Mills knew that expanding east was critical to growth, and built a manufacturing plant in Hopkinsville, KY to support its growing Retail, Club, and Foodservice business; and to provide East and West Coast facilities for National distribution.
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Continental Mills acquired the Albers Brand in 2008. Since 1899, the Albers brand has provided high quality, wholesome corn meal and grits to
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Continental Mills acquired the Albers Brand in 2008. Since 1899, the Albers brand has provided high quality, wholesome corn meal and grits to consumers that come from only premium corn. Albers yellow and white corn meal serves as ingredients to prepare everything from sweet corn bread and corn muffins to fried fish and chicken.
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Continental Mills acquired the WildRoots brand in 2012 and this expanded Continental Mills' portfolio of products into snacks. Continental Mills also
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Continental Mills acquired the WildRoots brand in 2012 and this expanded Continental Mills' portfolio of products into snacks. Continental Mills also acquired the iconic Kretschmer® Wheat Germ brand and a manufacturing facility located in Manhattan, KS.
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In December 2013, Continental Mills acquired a manufacturing plant located in Effingham, IL from Harlan Bakeries. The facility was originally built by
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In December 2013, Continental Mills acquired a manufacturing plant located in Effingham, IL from Harlan Bakeries. The facility was originally built by Krispy Kreme in 2001. This facility has increased our manufacturing footprint and provided additional capacity for manufacturing bulk dry mix products.
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Today, we are a growing, thriving company, and still privately-owned. Andy Heily is President & CEO, the third generation of the Heily family to
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Today, we are a growing, thriving company, and still privately-owned. Andy Heily is President & CEO, the third generation of the Heily family to lead the company. Our strategically located distribution centers, four state-of-the-industry plants, and partnerships with co-manufacturers puts us among the top food producers in the United States, and allows us to meet the needs of customers throughout North America.
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Quality Products, Quality People.

We have a passion for quality, making amazing Krusteaz and Ghirardelli baking mixes, CB Old Country Store biscuit and gravy mixes, WildRoots snacks, Alpine Cider drink mixes and more! You and your family will love the variety of products and flavors that can be found through Retail grocery stores, Food Service that is sold through restaurants, hospitals and schools, and Club store channels throughout the United States.
But most importantly, we feel that people are at the heart of everything we do…we truly value our employees, our customers, and our community. We hope you’ll take some time and get to know us!

CM In The Community

We are committed to investing time and resources to use our expertise in food to help our neighbors in need. Our philanthropic purpose is to ‘Enhance People’s Lives through the Power of Food’, and our employees get involved to make a difference in our communities. One way you can participate is through our pancake breakfast fundraiser program, Krusteaz Gives Back. Visit www.krusteaz.com to learn more!

Our Culture

We have deeply held values about doing the right thing for our customers, our employees, and our business. We have an open culture and approachable leaders, and are committed to fostering and upholding a positive, friendly workplace where employees are assured a safe and respectful environment.
Our workforce is made up of talented, motivated people who are invested in the company’s success. We hire selectively to ensure that our employees are the right fit for the job and the company, and we’re proud when employees choose to develop their careers with us.

Meet the Team

Andy Heily

President & CEO

Consumers are more engaged than ever in the food products they choose and the brands they support. I have the great honor of working at a company with the highest ethical standards, and with people that are passionate about designing, developing, and producing products that are verifiably better than our best competitors.

Rob Dilworth

CFO/SVP Finance, Accounting & Information Services

I came for the pancakes… I stayed for the people… Continental Mills is a rare mix of excellent products, superior capabilities, and an outstanding culture. We have the horsepower of a category leader and the agility of a nimble entrepreneurial company. We play to win. Everyday. I am so proud to be a part of this amazing team.

Mike Meredith

Senior VP, Operations

I work at Continental Mills for two simple reasons: We have great products that make me proud to tell others about and I am surrounded throughout our Manufacturing Plants and Corporate office by truly fine people that care about what they do and those around them.

Liz Castro

Senior VP, Human Resources

I work at Continental Mills because this is a company that walks the talk about people: we believe people are the reason for our success, and we truly care about each other. It shows in our leadership, in our culture, and in our day-to-day interactions with one another. CM possesses a rare blend of entrepreneurship and forward-thinking innovation that’s rooted in a long history of success. At Continental Mills, people ARE our business, and I’m proud and honored to be a part of it.

Locations

Continental Mills has a nationwide presence, featuring product distribution internationally and in all 50 states, supported by our four manufacturing facilities, two distribution centers, and our Corporate Business and Innovation Centers. We continually invest in our people and our facilities through equipment modernization and implementation of technology efficiencies, all with an eye toward verifiably better quality.

Corporate Headquarters – Business Center & Innovation Center
Tukwila, WA
Kent, WA
Hopkinsville, KY
Manhattan, KS
Effingham, IL

Our Corporate Headquarters is comprised of two buildings; the Business Center and the Innovation Center. The modern and spacious Business Center is home to corporate employees that support various aspects of the business. The building features unique art installations that tell the story of our People, our Products and our Plants with imagery and large wall graphics. Adjacent to the Business Center is the Innovation Center, which also reflects a modern feel that provides inspiring space for employees to create new and exciting products for our customers and consumers.  The Research & Development and Quality Teams have access to modern lab space, and a professional "show kitchen" for product demonstrations and innovation sessions.

The Tukwila Distribution Center (TUK) is our Western warehouse facility where products manufactured at our Kent Manufacturing Plant are stored and distributed. The TUK warehouse is located two miles from our Kent Plant and a half mile from our Corporate Business Center.

Situated in the heart of Kent Valley, WA, our Kent Manufacturing Plant houses mix systems and packaging lines that provide a flexible platform to deliver an array of dry-mix products to our customers. The Kent plant is located two miles from our Tukwila Distribution Center (TUK) and the Corporate Business and Innovation Centers.

Located on 30 acres with room to grow, our Hopkinsville Manufacturing Plant is our largest plant and houses its own Distribution Center on site.  Located about an hour outside of Nashville, TN, this plant is centered in an important agricultural region with an abundance of wheat fields and other crops that produce ingredients used in the facility.

Located in “The Little Apple,” our Manhattan Manufacturing Plant in Manhattan, KS manufactures the iconic Kretschmer® Wheat Germ brand and our WildRoots® Trail Mixes. This unique facility is completely separated by an allergen "clean room" to prevent cross-contamination of the wheat and nuts, and houses its own distribution center.

Our Effingham Manufacturing Plant focuses on the production of large quantity dry-mix products.  Located in Effingham, IL, just three hours outside of Chicago, the Effingham Plant strategically serves the region with their vast warehousing and production areas.