Dust-up over Southern flour has Smucker in a jam

[Food Network Fan]

Dust-up over Southern flour has Smucker in a jam
The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com - Cleveland,OH,USA
The wheat in White Lily contains less protein than other flours, said Alton Brown of the Food Network, host of the show "Good Eats," which explores the ...

[Pluff Mudder]

White Lily is the flour in my pantry.

[Food Network Fan]

King Arthur is my favorite. But I buy the big bags from Sam's the most often unless I am baking a special bread.

[Pluff Mudder]

I purchased KA Flour a time or two when it's been on sale, but it's so much more expensive (at least around here) than any of the other flours.

[Food Network Fan]

I think it's very high quality. The workers who make King Arthur own the company, so that makes me think they have a vested interest in making it the best they possibly can.

[Food Network Fan]

Here's some good news from their website. (I order things from their online store sometimes too.)

King Arthur Flour lowers the price grocery retailers pay for our flours

It’s not often these days manufacturers get a chance to announce good news about food prices. I’d like to share with you a letter from Michael Bittel, our Senior VP and General Manager of the Flour Division at King Arthur Flour, announcing an immediate price decrease on flour. By carefully watching the wheat market and making some very smart buys, we have been able to secure a supply of high-quality wheat at better than expected prices. This means we can mill the flour at better than expected cost and pass the savings on to our direct customers, the retailers from whom you buy your groceries.

To Our Valued Customers:
We communicated openly and honestly with you earlier this year when high wheat prices resulted in price increases on our products, and now we’re very pleased to share news of a price decrease with you. While wheat prices remain high, we were able to purchase the high-quality U.S.-grown and -milled wheat we require for King Arthur flours at a better average price than last year. This means we can bring down the price of our flour – the flour you’ve come to depend on for your best-ever baking – and save you a little dough!
King Arthur Flour is lowering the price we charge our retail partners for our four home-baking flours sold at grocery stores nationwide. The price decrease, effective August 1, 2008, means that grocery stores will pay less for King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour, King Arthur Unbleached Bread Flour, King Arthur Traditional 100% Whole Wheat Flour, and King Arthur Unbleached White Whole Wheat Flour. We hope grocery stores that raised their prices during the past year will be able to pass along the new lower prices to you, their shoppers.
You can be assured that King Arthur Flour is not compromising on product quality. We’re still providing the best-performing flour you’ll find, as we have since 1790; on that we will never waiver.
During this time of significant price increases in virtually every area, we are grateful to be able to offer you, our loyal customers, some relief to your food budgets so you can keep more money in your wallets.
We appreciate your continued support, and we hope you will find much comfort and sustenance in the joyful tradition of home baking.
Sincerely,
Michael Bittel
Senior VP/General Manager, Flour LINK TO SOURCE

[BerryBaby]

Haven't seen those brands out here. It's Pillsbury, Gold Medal or Bob's Red Mill. I've used all of them.

[ibcheft]

Only seen Pillsbury or gold medal, haven't ever noticed another brand, is it that better ?

[BerryBaby]

I don't know. I've never used Bob's Red Mill flours, but have bought some of their other products, which are very good.

They are located in Oregon and sell all over the country. Very interesting company...check out their website when you get a minute.

[MiseEnPlace]

I started using King Arthur bread flour after I saw Alton use it in his pizza dough recipe. Now I won't use any other brand for bread flour.

I've used a couple of brands of flour for biscuits with mixed results. I usual use Hudson Cream flour... I like the cow on bag It works.