Milling is the process by which wheat is ground into flour, through which the wheat grain is separated into its constituent parts: bran, germ and white flour. Flour Production

Flour is valuable, versatile and nutritious. Packed with vitamins and minerals it is probably one of the most important food elements in the world and it forms an essential part of our daily diet, from breakfast to a sandwich lunch or afternoon tea, through to our evening meal.

There are 59 flour mills operating in the UK. Flour milling in the UK today is an automated and efficient industry, having evolved from the days of water-driven and wind-driven mills.

As a result of advances in technology and the skill of the miller, the industry produces over 400 different types of flour to meet a growing consumer demand for a diverse range of products.

The best known use of flour is to make bread, but it is an important ingredient in many common foodstuffs. These include biscuits, cakes, pies, pizza bases and soups.

In this section you can find out more about the way flour is produced and the raw materials used.