“We are one of the few manufacturing companies left in Norway that can boast five generations of expertise,” says Marianne Aareskjold. She’s a fifth-generation mill technician at Stangeland Mølle, a company based in Gjesdal that produces cereals and flour using only Norwegian materials.

“Our product stands out because we always choose Norwegian grain from Norwegian farmers”.

Stangeland Mølle processes five types of grain for its cereal products: oats, barley, rye, spelt and wheat. The company uses the highest-quality grain, from Odalen, Storhamar and Jæren, and it mills its own flour using stone mills, to preserve the nutritional value and flavour of the grain. The company’s production process is based on a combination of traditional methods and modern technology, ensuring quality and safety standards at every stage.

“We receive analyses and samples from our suppliers before the grain arrives at the mill. Once the quality has been approved, the grain is delivered to the silos before it goes on to production. The grain will be cleaned, polished, cooked and rolled, or milled into flour, before it goes on to packaging”, Marianne explains.

In recent years, the company has worked hard to build a state-of-the-art mill that enables them to optimise their energy consumption and reduce their environmental impact. The new facility houses the entire production process under one roof.

Yet the change of facilities hasn’t affected the quality of Stangeland Mølle’s products. Their oatmeal won the prestigious award from Det Norske Måltid (The Norwegian Meal).

“I signed us up for this competition. But my confidence in winning with oatmeal was really low, given the competition was against so much fantastic Norwegian food. It was so low that my colleagues were not informed!”, Marianne revealed.

“But, in the end, we came out on top and the jury’s judgement was: ‘The oatmeal from Stangeland Mølle is truly world-class’.”.

The company’s success is largely attributed to its visionary and hard-working leader, Øyvind Stangeland, the fourth-generation general manager. He has been working in the food industry for over 40 years, driven by a simple motto: go for it!

“I have seen many changes and challenges in the industry, but I have always believed in our products and our vision”, Øyvind states.

“I am very proud of our new mill, which is a result of hard work and dedication. It was a long and demanding process, but a very rewarding one!”.

He is supported by his daughter Marianne, who is the production and purchasing manager, and Norway’s only female mill technician. She has extensive experience, from working in large mills in Switzerland and Germany, and is constantly on the move to make new contacts and gain new ideas and inspiration. She’s also responsible for expanding the company’s international presence and reputation.

The third member of the family team is Hege, the office manager and fire safety manager. She ensures that the orders, logistics, invoices, and customer service run smoothly and efficiently.

With five generations in the business, Stangeland Mølle has faced many different challenges—and one of the biggest so far has been energy. The mill industry is an energy-intensive industry, and with major differences between regions, competition is not on equal terms.

Yet the company has a strong focus on sustainability to reduce its environmental impact, and aims to achieve four goals:

• To create healthy and eco-friendly vegetarian products that improve public health.
• To use modern and green solutions that lower energy consumption and environmental impact, such as LED lights, solar panels, upgrading production lines, and ventilation systems with heat recovery, and eventually burn oat husks for heating, which will replace heating oil.
• To respect human rights and labour conditions in its global business relations, and to pay its employees fairly and create more jobs.
• To reduce waste in the production and supply chain, and to use bio ash from oat husks to fertilize the soil and support agricultural production.

The company’s vision is to grow even more in its own market, while also building brick upon brick internationally, and become an ambassador for Norwegian agriculture.

In particular, Marianne, Hege, and Øyvind want to put Norway on the map for its food production. With a brand-new mill, a five-generation legacy, and a team of dedicated and talented people, Stangeland Mølle is ready to face the future with confidence and optimism.