AUBURN — Douglas Weed is the third generation of his family to own and run Auburn–based New Hope Mills, Inc., succeeding his father as president and CEO and sole owner of the company Jan. 1. The Weed family acquired the business, which got its start in 1823, in 1947. New Hope Mills produces a variety […]
AUBURN — Douglas Weed is the third generation of his family to own and run Auburn–based New Hope Mills, Inc., succeeding his father as president and CEO and sole owner of the company Jan. 1.
The Weed family acquired the business, which got its start in 1823, in 1947. New Hope Mills produces a variety of baking mixes for pancakes, muffins, and other products.
About half the firm’s business comes from selling its products under its own brand and half comes from private labeling its mixes for other companies, Weed says.
Weed first started working for New Hope Mills as a child. He says he’s worked on every aspect of the business, from the cleaning crew to executive-level jobs.
Weed’s father Dale left the business to start a new company.
“He found that was his way to move on,” Weed says. “That was his way of separating himself.”
As for his goals as CEO, Weed says he wants to grow the company’s own brand to be a bigger part of its business. The firm has expanded its line of pancake mixes to include a number of different flavors and not all of its customers carry all of the flavors, which leaves room for growth.
New Hope Mills’ products can be found in grocery stores including Wegmans and Price Chopper locally and in chains throughout the Northeast, Weed says. The company also has a presence in Ohio and in some other areas along East Coast.
Many customers still visit the company’s store in Auburn or order from its website if they can’t find the products they want in chains, Weed notes. New Yorkers who move to other areas of the country continue to order New Hope Mills’ products even after they leave, he says.
The firm is situated in 30,000 square feet at 181 York St. in Auburn and employs 40 people.
The business relocated to its current location in 2004 from its original site in New Hope. Weed’s family still owns the old location, which includes a number of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.
Weed says he wants to focus on implementing some lean-manufacturing initiatives at the company. He took part in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Emerging Leaders Initiative last year, which he says was a valuable experience.
“That really pushed me to think in a little bit different fashion,” he says. “I have my strategic growth action plan that I’m still working off right now.”
Forming an advisory board is on Weed’s agenda as well. The idea, he says, is to tap some outside expertise.
New Hope Mills is investing in research and development, Weed adds. The company is working on new ideas for products and recently introduced a line of gluten-free mixes.
Four of Weed’s five siblings and two of their spouses work at New Hope Mills, along with Weed’s mother-in-law.
Promoting the family dynamic at the company is a priority, Weed says. No members of the fourth generation work at the business yet, but Weed says he wants to foster continued family involvement.
“It is something I would like to cultivate,” he says. “When it goes into the fourth generation, I want it to be successful.”
Contact Tampone at ktampone@cnybj.com
