About cogent - BAKALIAN FLOUR MILLS

ABOUT US

MISSION

Bakalian Flour Mills is committed to evolve milling in Lebanon and abroad through milling innovation and strategic investments to raise quality standards with an awareness of the environment and social responsibility.

Bakalian is a family-owned institution that has built a legacy from its commitment to the industry of milling. For over a century, Bakalian Flour Mills has constantly assumed positions of leadership through its active pursuit of technical mastery, business development and an engagement with a diverse network of professional partners across the globe. Its reputation has been grounded in its commitment to its clients, prioritizing their needs, customizing solutions, delivering consistent quality and providing incomparable after sales servicing.

VALUES & COMMITMENTS

Our business is rooted in Respect, Honesty, Integrity, Hard work, and Passion. These values are central to everything we do and are expressed in the following commitments:

ZERO WASTE

We operate with a strict environmental policy of zero waste. All byproducts that come out of the milling process are reused, repurposed or sold: residues are turned into animal feed, metals are sent to the scrapyard to be recycled, sand and plastics are re-used.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

We understand that business longevity can only be achieved through the continuous contribution to the wellbeing of local communities, staff, suppliers, and customers. That is why we work on ensuring a good balance between our business practices, our social investments, and our commitment to preserving the ecosystem.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

As we prioritize the safety and quality of our products, we also care about the wellbeing of our employees. Our safety and security procedures are reviewed regularly and are always in line with international standards. In addition, we invest in routine trainings and equipment inspection, ensuring that our staff members are fully aware of safety measures and are kept safe at all times.

CUSTOMER CARE

Bakalian’s reputation has been grounded in a dedication to offer the customer’s a consistent quality product. In addition, the drive for innovation has continued to serve as the force for the continued leadership role of Bakalian mills. The direct contact, follow up and accessibility to clients needs and feedback is fundamental part of the success of the Bakalian enterprise.

Bakalian’s history: Over a century of innovation

In 1908, Sarkis Bakalian launched his first mill in Adana, with a capacity of 24 metric tons of wheat per day. He moved to Beirut, and started Lebanon’s first industrial milling facility, Les Grands Moulins du Liban – Sarkis Bakalian, in downtown Beirut and later expanded to Karantina as business prospered.

Honoring their father’s achievements and vision, the second-generation Bakalians, Pakrat and Vasken, developed the business locally and regionally, establishing facilities in Ghana and Sudan. Later with the third generation, came ambitious expansions by Sarkis Bakalian Jr., including the establishment of the first R&D lab in a milling factory in the region, the addition of two production lines multiplying capacity, and the construction of a landmark 30,000 tons-capacity cement silos hosting the largest wheat storage in the country.

At the helms of the business now are the fourth generation Bakalian sisters. Patricia is the youngest female CEO of a flour mill in the region today, Paola is the head of operations and Priscilla heads the R&D department. Together, they steer the flourishing history of the Bakalian millers forward.

Today, Bakalian Flour Mills continues to combine inherited values, and modern technologies to produce excellent flour. With more than 120 employees, three production lines, a commitment to identifying new trends, and innovation the history of the organization continues to write new chapters.

MILLING PROCESS

The flour milling industry is a practice that combines traditional skills with high technology to produce a wide range of products. The role of milling is to unlock the full potential of varied and complex wheat grains by breaking them open, carefully disassembling their protective shells and intricate matrices of starch and protein, and then reducing them to the uniform particle size product that is flour.

Selecting the right wheat is crucial

In order to offer high quality flours, we begin by selecting high quality grains that are sourced directly from suppliers we know and trust. Our team works closely with a network of premier producers (Cargill, Bungee, Toepfer) conducting rigorous quality control measures to ensure a steady supply of excellent grain.

The wheat we use today is predominantly from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, France, Bulgaria, Germany, and the United States.

Special attention is paid to the product’s condition upon arrival. Before unloading, a sample is drawn from each vehicle and carefully tested for its quality, using a near-infrared analysis unit. If the grain meets the requirements, it is pre-cleaned and weighed before being stored in on-site grain silos that can hold up to 30,000 metric tons.

Traceability / Consistency

Today, our facility is powered by the latest processing technologies engineered and supplied by Bühler, Switzerland. By equipping our production lines with this top-of-the-line brand, we ensure the careful handling of raw materials and exceptional product quality.

From grain procurement, cleaning, and conditioning, to storing, milling, and delivery, we and have refined our milling capabilities so that we can exert the maximum degree of control over the process’s critical areas. That is why, day after day, we are able to bring to you flours of unrivalled safety, quality and consistency.

Bakalian Flour Mills has on-site concrete silos with a storage capacity of 30,000 Metric Tons, enabling us to provide consistent product quality and supply with a three months safety margin. In close proximity to the port of Beirut, our flour mills have three production lines processing 200,000 Tons of wheat annually.

To get the best product, efficient processing of wheat is crucial. All production lines are fitted with scourers, sterilators and control-sifters to ensure maximum cleanliness and monitored with Wincos R2 computerized control systems. Our in-house expert maintenance department follows a strict preventive maintenance schedule on all machines.

EXPERTISE

A Team Of Milling Technologists

Our millers have dedicated their lives to understanding the full potential of wheat, as well as perfecting the production process from field to table. Our team of experts and engineers have decades of experience in milling technology and stay up to date through continuous education programs locally and abroad.

Bakalian Flour Mills continues to innovate and meet the evolving needs of the market by investing in education programs, in-house trainings, and top industry workshops. In turn, we share this continuously updated know-how with our clients through.

Training, research, development, and assistance
Know-how and recognized experience
Technical assistance and advice
Product development and problem solving
Tailor-made flour for specialty products

Quality & Food Safety Management

Daily Laboratory Testing

PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND RHEOLOGICAL TESTING

Our facility includes a wide range of technologies for daily physicochemical and rheological testing of wheat and flour including: alveograph, farinograph, extensograph, moisture, ash, protein, gluten content, gluten index, falling number, damaged starch, and sedimentation.

MICROBIOLOGY TESTING

Our in-house microbiology lab allows for fast and reliable safety assessment, ensuring the utmost safety and quality of our products.

BAKING TESTING

We’re equipped with a bread testing lab, state of the art lab mixers and baking equipment that is first of its kind in the region.

A daily protocol tests for dough water absorption, dough characteristics under stress, protein strength and mixing time, temperature, bread volume, aspect, color, smell, taste, as well as shelf life.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

A dedicated R&D team works on improving the performance and quality of our existing products. They also focus on developing new ones that meet the industry’s ever-changing standards and the market’s evolving needs.