in 2008, the company began expansion into the food service and institutional industries due to a decline in the home-baking products market. in 2015, this expansion effort was significantly increased, in order to better-enable the company to fulfill the needs of these industries and markets. expansion plans were in part based upon company projections predicting that many company employees will be retiring between 2006 and 2018. in 2015, 173 of the company's employees are qualified for retirement. expansion plans include the introduction and implementation of more modern equipment, which requires fewer personnel to operate, and an increased capacity for storage. in 2013, as part of the plans to keep the company moving forward into the future, a new research and development facility was built that cost over $6 million. the company plans for the expansions to conclude by fall 2017. in 2013, chelsea milling company produced 180 million boxes of jiffy mix during their busy season, which runs from september through january.