Robin Hood Flour
Product brand
UnclaimedRobin Hood Flour is a Canadian flour brand whose products are manufactured by Horizon Milling and marketed to retail, food-service, and industrial customers.
Last updated August 24, 2026
Overview
Robin Hood Flour is a Canadian flour brand with roots in the milling industry of Saskatchewan. The brand was established in 1900 by miller Donald Mclean as a product of the Moose Jaw Milling Company. Its early history reflects the development of Western Canada’s grain-processing economy, in which local mills converted prairie wheat into branded flour for household and commercial use. In 1909, the Moose Jaw Milling Company was purchased by New Prague Flouring Mill of Minnesota, which was owned by Francis Atherton Bean of Minneapolis. Under the new ownership, the mill produced flour under several names, including Keynote, Saskana, and Robin Hood. Robin Hood subsequently became the enduring brand associated with the business and its Canadian milling operations. The company’s corporate identity changed through a series of acquisitions and restructurings. By 1970, the business had become part of International Multifoods Corporation. The original Moose Jaw mill closed in 1966, when the industry was experiencing excess milling capacity. The mill building was later demolished, although its grain bins and elevator remained in use as an inland grain terminal operated by Parrish and Heimbecker Ltd. A newer mill in Saskatoon, constructed in 1928, continued to manufacture Robin Hood branded flour and remains the principal historical manufacturing site associated with the brand in the available reference material. Ownership and operating arrangements changed again in the twenty-first century. In June 2004, The J.M. Smucker Company purchased three Canadian milling facilities from International Multifoods, along with the Robin Hood brand. In 2006, Smucker announced the sale of the Canadian milling facilities to Horizon Milling G.P. for US$78 million. Horizon Milling was a Cargill unit and, under the resulting arrangement, owned and operated Canadian mills in Saskatoon, Montreal, and Burlington that manufactured Robin Hood branded products. The brand has since operated through a split commercial structure. Horizon Milling markets Robin Hood products directly to food-service and industrial customers in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. The J.M. Smucker Company continues to market Robin Hood products through the consumer retail channel. This arrangement separates manufacturing and business-to-business distribution from consumer-brand marketing while preserving Robin Hood as a recognizable retail flour name. Robin Hood Flour’s documented product identity is centered on flour rather than on a broad independently owned corporate portfolio. Its historical significance comes from the continuity of a Canadian milling brand across local ownership, cross-border acquisitions, corporate consolidation, and modern contract or shared-channel operating structures. The brand is active, but the available reference material does not establish a current standalone headquarters, a complete present-day product catalogue, or a separately listed corporate entity.
History
Robin Hood Flour originated in 1900 at the Moose Jaw Milling Company in Saskatchewan. Miller Donald Mclean established the brand during a period when Western Canadian grain production was supporting the growth of regional flour mills. In 1909, New Prague Flouring Mill of Minnesota, owned by Francis Atherton Bean of Minneapolis, acquired the Moose Jaw mill. The business produced flour under several brand names, including Keynote, Saskana, and Robin Hood. The brand’s corporate history was subsequently shaped by consolidation in the North American milling sector. The business passed through acquisitions and restructurings and became part of International Multifoods Corporation in 1970. The original Moose Jaw mill ceased operations in 1966 because of excess capacity. Although the mill itself was demolished, its grain bins and elevator survived and continued to serve as an inland terminal under the ownership and operation of Parrish and Heimbecker Ltd. Robin Hood production became associated with a newer Saskatoon mill built in 1928. That facility continued to manufacture Robin Hood flour and represents the brand’s connection to Saskatchewan’s long-running grain-processing infrastructure. The available reference material identifies Canadian facilities in Saskatoon, Montreal, and Burlington as manufacturing locations under later operating arrangements. In June 2004, The J.M. Smucker Company acquired three Canadian milling facilities from International Multifoods and obtained the Robin Hood brand. Two years later, Smucker announced the sale of the Canadian milling facilities to Horizon Milling G.P. for US$78 million. Horizon Milling was a Cargill unit that owned and operated the Canadian mills producing Robin Hood branded products after the transaction. The post-2006 structure divided commercial responsibilities. Horizon Milling marketed Robin Hood products directly to food-service and industrial customers in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. Smucker continued to market the brand to consumer retail customers. Thus, Robin Hood’s modern identity combines a consumer-facing flour brand with manufacturing and business-to-business distribution conducted by a separate milling operator within the Cargill system. The documented history does not provide a complete current list of retail stock-keeping units, a current executive roster, or a standalone corporate headquarters for Robin Hood Flour. The brand remains active according to the reference material, but it is best understood as a product brand rather than as an independently listed flour company.
- 2006
Manufacturing facilities sold to Horizon Milling
[1]Smucker announced the sale of the Canadian milling facilities to Horizon Milling G.P., a Cargill unit, while retaining consumer retail marketing of Robin Hood products.
- 2004
Smucker acquired the brand
[1]The J.M. Smucker Company purchased three Canadian milling facilities from International Multifoods, including Robin Hood Flour.
- 1970
Business became part of International Multifoods
[1]Following acquisitions and restructurings, the business became part of International Multifoods Corporation.
- 1966
Moose Jaw mill closed
[1]The original Moose Jaw mill closed because of excess milling capacity. Its grain bins and elevator remained in use as an inland terminal.
- 1928
Saskatoon mill constructed
[1]A newer Saskatoon mill was built and later continued to manufacture Robin Hood branded flour.
- 1909
Moose Jaw Milling Company acquired
[1]New Prague Flouring Mill of Minnesota acquired the Moose Jaw mill, which produced Robin Hood alongside the Keynote and Saskana brands.
- 1900
Robin Hood Flour brand established
[1]Miller Donald Mclean established Robin Hood Flour as a brand of the Moose Jaw Milling Company.
Products and positioning
A long-established Canadian flour brand serving household baking as well as food-service and industrial users, with manufacturing handled by Horizon Milling and consumer retail marketing handled by The J.M. Smucker Company.
Flour · 1900
Robin Hood branded flour
The core Robin Hood offering is branded flour sold through consumer retail channels and supplied to food-service and industrial customers. The available reference material identifies the brand broadly as flour and does not provide a verified current breakdown of flour types, package sizes, formulations, or regional product names.
Brand decisions
2006
Sale of Canadian milling facilities to Horizon MillingM&ABackground
After acquiring Robin Hood and three Canadian milling facilities in 2004, The J.M. Smucker Company announced a transaction to sell the facilities to Horizon Milling G.P., a Cargill unit.
Action taken
Horizon Milling acquired ownership and operational responsibility for Canadian mills in Saskatoon, Montreal, and Burlington that manufactured Robin Hood products. Smucker retained consumer retail marketing, while Horizon Milling handled food-service and industrial marketing.
Aftermath
The transaction created a divided operating model in which manufacturing and business-to-business distribution were separated from consumer retail brand marketing.
Transaction value. US$78 million (2006)
Recent events
- 2006
Canadian milling facilities transferred to Horizon Milling[1]
M&A
Smucker announced the sale of its Canadian milling facilities to Horizon Milling G.P., a Cargill unit, for US$78 million. Horizon Milling assumed ownership and operation of mills producing Robin Hood branded products, while Smucker retained consumer retail marketing.
- 2004
The J.M. Smucker Company acquires Robin Hood brand and Canadian milling facilities[1]
M&A
The J.M. Smucker Company purchased three Canadian milling facilities from International Multifoods, including the Robin Hood brand.
Sources1 sources
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