Ngapara's historic flour mill has slipped into disuse.
Production of Eclipse Flour in the mill, built in 1896, ended "in the last few weeks'' Milligans Food Group Ltd managing director Bruce Paton said.
The company still used the site seasonally.
Grain-based animal nutrition products were being produced in the building but the mill, which
once processed wheat grown in North Otago paddocks, was no longer viable.
It was "not economic'' to mill flour there.
The wheat grown in the area tended not to be suitable for Milligans' bakery production.
Wheat had become a global commodity.
Milling had been "disappearing'' in New Zealand over the past 30 years.
Milligans imported much of its flour from Australia.
The old Ngapara flour mill would be kept intact should it ever be needed again.
"It can be restarted any time,'' Mr Paton said.
Milligans continued to produce dairy and cheese products at its Oamaru site.
The company's product line-up includes Granny Faye's and Frosty Boy.
- Oamaru Mail
