U.S. Mills

U.S. Mills was an American packaged-food company whose portfolio centered on cereals and other shelf-stable natural and specialty foods. Its products were distributed through supermarkets, wholesale grocers, and natural-food distributors in the United States. The company is associated with a group of heritage and natural-food brands, including Uncle Sam Cereal, Erewhon, New Morning, and Skinner's Raisin Bran; it also owned the Farina brand for part of the 2000s. The company's earliest documented product history dates to 1908, when Uncle Sam Cereal was introduced. Uncle Sam became the principal heritage cereal associated with U.S. Mills and was positioned as a high-fiber, health-oriented product. In 1926, the company introduced Skinner's Raisin Bran, which is described as America's first raisin bran. These products gave U.S. Mills a presence in the traditional cereal category while also providing a platform for health and natural-food positioning. A major change came through the development of the Erewhon business. Erewhon Natural Foods Market was founded in 1966 by Aveline and Michio Kushi with an emphasis on organically grown foods and macrobiotic principles. Erewhon acquired U.S. Mills in 1986 and adopted U.S. Mills as the combined company's name. This transaction connected U.S. Mills' established cereal brands with the emerging natural-food movement and helped define the company's later portfolio. U.S. Mills expanded its natural-food business in 2000 by acquiring New Morning, a packaged natural-food distributor and an early producer of natural versions of children's cereals. In 2001, it acquired Farina from Holden Foods. Farina had originally been introduced by Pillsbury in 1898, giving U.S. Mills another historically established cereal and breakfast-food name. U.S. Mills later sold Farina to Malt-O-Meal in 2009. On December 14, 2009, U.S. Mills, Inc. was acquired by Attune Foods. Following the acquisition, Erewhon, Uncle Sam, New Morning, and Skinner's were referenced under the Attune Foods banner. The transaction marks the end of U.S. Mills as an independent operating company in the available historical record. The business is therefore best understood as a former packaged-food company whose brands were absorbed into a successor natural-food portfolio rather than as a currently independent consumer brand.

U.S. Mills' recorded history begins in 1908 with the introduction of Uncle Sam Cereal. The product established a long-running cereal identity built around nutrition and whole-grain or high-fiber associations. In 1926, U.S. Mills introduced Skinner's Raisin Bran, described in the available historical account as America's first raisin bran. These early products placed the company in the mainstream American breakfast-cereal market while giving it distinctive heritage brands. A separate natural-food tradition became important to the company through Erewhon. Aveline and Michio Kushi founded Erewhon Natural Foods Market in 1966, emphasizing organically grown foods and macrobiotic principles. Erewhon acquired U.S. Mills in 1986 and selected U.S. Mills as the name of the combined company. The acquisition linked U.S. Mills' established cereal operations with Erewhon's natural-food philosophy and helped shape the company's later focus on natural, organic, and specialty packaged foods. In 2000, U.S. Mills acquired New Morning, a packaged natural-food distributor that was also identified with early natural versions of children's cereals. The deal broadened the company's reach beyond its older cereal names and strengthened its presence in the natural-food channel. In 2001, U.S. Mills acquired Farina from Holden Foods. Farina had first been introduced by Pillsbury in 1898, making it an older breakfast-food brand than U.S. Mills itself. The company later sold Farina to Malt-O-Meal in 2009. U.S. Mills was acquired by Attune Foods on December 14, 2009. After that transaction, the brands most closely associated with the company—Erewhon, Uncle Sam, New Morning, and Skinner's—were referenced under the Attune Foods banner. The acquisition ended U.S. Mills' independent corporate history in the available sources. Its legacy therefore survives primarily through the cereal and natural-food brands developed or assembled during its operating period.

• 2009

  Farina is sold and U.S. Mills is acquired

  [1]U.S. Millsen.wikipedia.org

  U.S. Mills sells Farina to Malt-O-Meal and is acquired by Attune Foods on December 14.

• 2001

  Farina is acquired

  [1]U.S. Millsen.wikipedia.org

  U.S. Mills acquires Farina from Holden Foods.

• 2000

  New Morning is acquired

  [1]U.S. Millsen.wikipedia.org

  U.S. Mills acquires New Morning, a packaged natural-food distributor associated with natural children's cereals.

• 1986

  Erewhon acquires U.S. Mills

  [1]U.S. Millsen.wikipedia.org

  Erewhon acquires U.S. Mills and adopts U.S. Mills as the name of the combined company.

• 1966

  Erewhon Natural Foods Market is founded

  [1]U.S. Millsen.wikipedia.org

  Aveline and Michio Kushi establish Erewhon with an emphasis on organically grown foods and macrobiotic principles.

• 1926

  Skinner's Raisin Bran is introduced

  [1]U.S. Millsen.wikipedia.org

  U.S. Mills introduces Skinner's Raisin Bran, described in the source history as America's first raisin bran.

• 1908

  Uncle Sam Cereal is introduced

  [1]U.S. Millsen.wikipedia.org

  The product that became the company's foundational heritage cereal is introduced.

A heritage American packaged-food company combining established cereal brands with natural, organic, macrobiotic, and specialty-food positioning.

• Breakfast cereal · 1908

  Uncle Sam Cereal

  Introduced in 1908, Uncle Sam Cereal was U.S. Mills' foundational heritage product. It represented the company's long-standing emphasis on cereal and nutrition-oriented packaged foods and remained one of the brands associated with the business after its acquisition by Attune Foods.

• Bran cereal · 1926

  Skinner's Raisin Bran

  Introduced in 1926, Skinner's Raisin Bran was a raisin-and-bran breakfast cereal associated with U.S. Mills. The company history describes it as America's first raisin bran, giving the product a distinctive place in the firm's cereal heritage.

• Natural and organic foods · 1966

  Erewhon

  Erewhon originated as a natural-food market founded in 1966 by Aveline and Michio Kushi. After acquiring U.S. Mills in 1986, the Erewhon name became part of the combined company's portfolio and represented its natural, organic, and macrobiotic heritage.

• Natural cereal and packaged foods

  New Morning

  New Morning was acquired by U.S. Mills in 2000. It was associated with packaged natural foods and with early natural versions of children's cereals, broadening U.S. Mills' reach in the natural-food segment.

• Breakfast cereal · 1898

  Farina

  Farina is a historic breakfast-food brand originally introduced by Pillsbury in 1898. U.S. Mills acquired it from Holden Foods in 2001 and sold it to Malt-O-Meal in 2009.

• 2009

  Sell Farina to Malt-O-MealM&A

  Background

  U.S. Mills was streamlining its portfolio before being acquired by Attune Foods later in the year.

  Action taken

  The company sold the Farina brand to Malt-O-Meal.

  Aftermath

  Farina left the U.S. Mills portfolio, while the remaining principal brands were later associated with Attune Foods.

  Source

• 2009

  Acquire U.S. MillsM&A

  Background

  Attune Foods acquired U.S. Mills as part of the consolidation of natural and specialty packaged-food brands.

  Action taken

  Attune Foods acquired U.S. Mills, Inc. on December 14, 2009.

  Aftermath

  Erewhon, Uncle Sam, New Morning, and Skinner's were referenced under the Attune Foods banner, ending U.S. Mills' independent corporate history in the available record.

  Source

• 2001

  Acquire FarinaM&A

  Background

  Farina was an established breakfast-food brand with origins in the late nineteenth century.

  Action taken

  U.S. Mills acquired Farina from Holden Foods.

  Aftermath

  Farina remained in the U.S. Mills portfolio until its sale to Malt-O-Meal in 2009.

  Source

• 2000

  Acquire New MorningM&A

  Background

  U.S. Mills sought to expand its natural-food portfolio and distribution presence.

  Action taken

  The company acquired New Morning, a packaged natural-food distributor associated with natural children's cereals.

  Aftermath

  New Morning became part of U.S. Mills' natural and specialty-food portfolio.

  Source

• 1986

  Adopt U.S. Mills as the combined company nameM&A

  Background

  Erewhon acquired U.S. Mills after operating as a natural-food business founded around organic and macrobiotic principles.

  Action taken

  The combined company used U.S. Mills as its corporate name.

  Aftermath

  The business combined U.S. Mills' cereal heritage with Erewhon's natural-food orientation.

  Source

1. 1U.S. Millsen.wikipedia.org