Colorado Mills

What Colorado Mills does

Colorado Mills, LLC is a privately held, vertically integrated sunflower processor founded in 1999 and headquartered in Lamar, Colorado. The company operates a single-site, zero-waste-to-landfill facility that produces two core product lines: high oleic sunflower seed oil and livestock feed derived from oil-extraction byproducts. On the oil side, the company sells bulk quantities (tankers and rail cars) to food service companies, ingredient manufacturers, and restaurants, alongside 750mL consumer bottles through an owned e-commerce storefront and a growing portfolio of value-added infused oils (garlic, herb, spicy chili). The feed division converts expeller-pressed sunflower meal into high-protein, high-fat feed products for cattle, equine, swine, lamb, and goats, distributed through a regional dealer network and direct bulk sales.

Underlying technology centers on an expeller-pressed extraction method that retains 9–10% natural sunflower oil in the feed fiber, yielding livestock feed with 27% protein and 22% fiber content. The resulting oil is non-GMO, trans-fat free, non-winterized, Kosher (Star-K) certified, Non-GMO Project Verified, and American Heart Association Certified. The company contracts with local sunflower growers across 25,000 acres in the Midwest/Hi Plains region, providing full seed-to-bottle supply control. Reported operational performance includes a 99.725% on-time fulfillment rate.

The business model is anchored in B2B bulk sunflower oil sales to enterprise food customers, complemented by a dealer-driven livestock feed distribution network and a smaller direct-to-consumer e-commerce channel for retail bottles. Pricing is quote-based for bulk and feed orders, with unit pricing on consumer bottles. Customer segments split between food manufacturers/restaurants and livestock farmers/ranchers as primary audiences, with individual health-conscious consumers and show animal producers as secondary segments. The company is led by General Manager and CEO Richard Robbins and employs 50+ people.

Name

Colorado Mills

Legal name

Colorado Mills, LLC

Website

https://comills.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Colorado Mills is a privately held, zero-waste sunflower processor in Lamar, Colorado, producing high oleic sunflower oil and livestock feed from expeller-pressed extraction. It sells bulk oil to food manufacturers and restaurants, and premium feed through a regional dealer network, serving U.S. food and agricultural customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Edible Oils and Animal Feed

NAICS

Starch and Vegetable Fats and Oils Manufacturing (31122), Soybean and Other Oilseed Processing (311224), Oilseed (except Soybean) Farming (111120)

SIC

Fats & Oils (2070), Grain Mill Products (2040)

akta.pro primary industry

Byproduct & Co-Product Feed Blending (DDGS, soybean hulls, wheat midds) (AFADAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sunflower Farming (AFAGABAC), Livestock Complete Feed Milling & Blending (Cattle/Swine/Poultry) (AFADAIAA)

Keywords

• Sunflower oil production
• Livestock feed manufacturing
• Expeller-pressed oil extraction
• Agricultural commodity processing
• Bulk ingredient supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Lamar

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sunflower Oil Sales: Colorado Mills generates revenue through the production and sale of high oleic sunflower seed oil in both bulk quantities (tankers, rail cars) and consumer packaging (750mL bottles). The oil is marketed to food service, ingredient manufacturers, restaurants, and families.
2. Livestock Feed Sales: Revenue generated from selling livestock feed products (cattle, equine, swine, lamb, and goat feeds) made from sunflower byproducts. Products sold in 50lb bags or bulk quantities through a dealer network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Colorado Mills produces high oleic sunflower seed oil and premium livestock feed through a zero-waste, full-cycle sunflower processing operation. The company contracts with local farmers across approximately 25,000 acres to grow non-GMO sunflower seeds, then extracts oil via an expeller-pressed method and converts all seed byproducts into protein-rich livestock feed for cattle, equine, swine, lamb, and goats. Products are sold in bulk (tanker/rail car) to food service and ingredient manufacturers, and in 750mL consumer bottles to retail customers.

Product overview

Colorado Mills operates as a full-cycle, zero-waste sunflower processing company producing two core product lines: High Oleic Sunflower Seed Oil and Livestock Feed. The sunflower oil is sold in bulk to food service providers and ingredient manufacturers, as well as in 750mL consumer bottles. The livestock feed division converts sunflower seed byproducts into premium feeds for cattle, horses, swine, lamb, and goats, including specialized products like Performance Goat Feed (medicated and non-medicated formulations) and RGR FEED+ for mixed livestock operations. The company also offers value-added infused oil products featuring garlic, herbs, and spicy chili flavors. All products are sourced from non-GMO sunflower seeds grown by local farmers in the Hi Plains region, processed at the company's Lamar, Colorado facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• High Oleic Sunflower Seed Oil Premium high oleic sunflower seed oil that is non-GMO, kosher, trans-fat free, non-winterized, and has neutral flavor. Marketed as heart-healthy with American Heart Association certification. Available in bulk quantities (tanker and rail car) for food service companies and ingredient manufacturers, as well as consumer 750mL bottles for everyday cooking.
• Livestock Feed High protein, high fat feed products for cattle, equine, swine, lamb, and goats made from expeller-pressed sunflower meal. Products retain 9-10% sunflower oil with 27% protein and 22% fiber, supporting bone and muscle growth in young animals and condition in older livestock. Sold in 50lb bags or bulk through a regional dealer network.
• Performance Goat Feed - Non-Medicated Non-medicated goat feed formulated for meat and show goats, enhancing coat shine and digestive health. Contains 18% crude protein, 7% crude fat, and is copper-fortified. Designed as a supplement feed for all classes of goats.
• Performance Goat Feed - Medicated Medicated goat feed for meat and show goats requiring added health support. Provides the same core nutrition as the non-medicated version with the added benefit of Monensin medication for targeted health outcomes.
• RGR FEED+ (Cattle & Goats) Versatile high-energy feed for both beef cattle (300-1200 lbs) and breeding, growing, finishing meat and milk producing goats. Contains 14% crude protein and 5% crude fat. Designed for mixed-species farms seeking a single feed solution.
• Garlic Infused Sunflower Oil Premium high oleic sunflower oil infused with roasted garlic cloves, suitable for drizzling, dipping, or as a base for salad dressings and marinades.
• Herb Infused Sunflower Oil High oleic sunflower oil infused with rosemary and thyme, designed for drizzling, dipping, or dressing up dishes.
• Spicy Chili Sunflower Oil High oleic sunflower oil infused with red chili flakes and whole dried chilies, bringing bold flavor and heat to stir-fries, pizzas, and other dishes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.725% on-time fulfillment rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Local Sunflower GrowerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado Mills contracts with local farmers across the Midwest to grow 25,000 acres of sunflower seeds. The company provides resources, support, and a reliable market to help grower partners thrive. This partnership ensures complete control from seed to bottle and sustains domestic production.
• Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4HminorOthersColorado Mills invests in local programs including FFA and 4H to support rural youth and agricultural education in Colorado communities.
• Local Suppliers and Small Shipping CompaniesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColorado Mills sources equipment from local suppliers and partners with small shipping companies to distribute products, supporting the Colorado economy and local businesses.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Cargill: Global agribusiness and oilseed processor with massive sunflower and other vegetable oil capabilities. Colorado Mills competes in the same broad ingredient category but at a fraction of the scale.
• Archer Daniels Midland (ADM): Diversified oilseed processor producing refined vegetable oils and animal feed co-products. Operates at industrial scale across the same supply chain where Colorado Mills is positioned as a regional, premium, zero-waste alternative.
• Perdue AgriBusiness: Vertically integrated grain and oilseed processor with feed manufacturing. Operates in similar oilseed-to-feed value chain as Colorado Mills, though with greater geographic scale and grain portfolio diversity.
• Bunge Limited: Major global oilseed processor with extensive sunflower oil refining operations. Competes with Colorado Mills for bulk food-service oil contracts while operating far broader commodity and ingredient portfolios.

Direct peers

• Stratas Foods: Specialty fats and oils supplier focused on food service and ingredient customers. Comparable positioning to Colorado Mills' bulk oil business serving food manufacturers and restaurants.
• Scoular: Mid-sized agribusiness that processes oilseeds and specialty grains and produces feed ingredients. Comparable grain/oilseed processing model with feed co-product integration, similar in scale and approach to Colorado Mills.
• Riceland Foods: Farmer-owned cooperative processing rice, soybeans, and other oilseeds into edible oils and feed. Closely comparable cooperative-style supply model and oil/feed co-product structure to Colorado Mills.
• SunOpta: Plant-based food and ingredient company with specialty oil and sunflower-based product lines. Overlaps with Colorado Mills' premium, non-GMO, sustainably sourced positioning in the ingredient channel.
• AAK (Aarhuskarlshamn): Specialty oils and fats manufacturer serving food manufacturers with tailored, value-added vegetable oil solutions. Highly comparable to Colorado Mills' specialty high-oleic sunflower oil business targeting ingredient customers.

Regional players

• High Plains Sunflower (CHS Inc. / regional cooperatives): Regional agricultural cooperatives operating sunflower processing and feed businesses in the High Plains / Midwest region. Directly comparable regional competitors for both sunflower seed sourcing and feed customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@coloradomills9285
• Facebookfacebook.com/cmsunflowers
• Instagraminstagram.com/cmsunflowers

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Colorado Mills