nabim
Nigel McLoughlin (left) receives the medal from Duncan Monroe (right) president, and managing director of Carrs Flour Mills.
Photo courtesy of nabim.
 
BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND — Belfast flour miller Nigel McLoughlin, of James Neill flour mills, has been awarded the Gold Medal by the National Association of British and Irish Millers (nabim).  This is the first medal of its kind to be awarded for a decade.  Nigel earned the medal by becoming the top in specialist examinations taken by 600 students across 30 countries in 5 continents and successfully completing a project looking at technical improvements in the flour mill.

“This is the first gold medal awarded for 10 years,” said Duncan Monroe, president of nabim, on March 14 when awarding the medal.  “The success of Nigel and his predecessors who have won the medal since it was first awarded almost a century ago helps to sustain the most technically advanced flour milling industry in the world, that to this day blends craft and technology to produce superb flour used in an enormous range of delicious foodstuffs.”

nabim represents around 50 flour mills in the U.K. and Ireland, producing 4 million tonnes of flour per year from wheat and other cereals grown mainly in the U.K.  It has been offering and conducting training courses for millers for more than 100 years, with students from all over the world.

James Neill flour mills have been milling flour in Belfast for 150 years.  The company is known for its retail flours but is also a major supplier to bakeries throughout Ireland.  It has consistently invested in equipment and staff training to ensure that its modern computer controlled mill maintains the reputation for high quality flour its customers have come to expect.