Every month, the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce highlights the history and accomplishments of one its members. This month, the chamber is profiling Mennel Milling Company, whose Dowagiac factory is located on Spaulding Street.

In 1833, the Dowagiac Creek was damned to power carding, saw and grist mills, as well as several other manufacturing processes, creating the Mill Pond. As one of these manufacturers and originally a grist mill, The Mennel Milling Company of Michigan has been recognized as one of the oldest businesses in the state and in Dowagiac.

Now powered by electricity, it is the oldest Michigan mill still in operation on the original site.

The Mennel family, based out of Fostoria, Ohio, purchased the facility in 1973 during a sheriff’s sale held on the steps of the Cass County Court House. Over the years, several family members managed the Dowagiac facility, adding wheat storage and a state-of-the-art flour storage, processing, packaging, bulk shipment, and warehouse facility.

Nearing his 20th year with the company, local lifetime resident and current plant manager Chad Tyrakowski has headed the Dowagiac location since 2008.

As one of few to become centennial companies and even fewer to have survived in the same industry, The Mennel Milling Co. has done so under the same family name and leadership. Currently directed by fifth generation President D. Ford Mennel, The Mennel Milling Company has been milling wheat into flour since 1886.

Its flours are not only used by nationally-known companies, but also by independent bakers. While consumers do not see the name, Mennel Milling, on the store shelf, its flour is in a majority of cake mixes, cookies, snack crackers, snack cakes, breadings, batters, gravies, soups, ice cream, ice cream cones, pretzels, oriental noodles, inclusions, regionally branded breads, and other continuously expanding products many would recognize. Its flour is also used by major mix manufacturers and bakeries that cater to the fast food and restaurant trade.

In addition to the vast grades of flour each meticulously made to customer specification, Mennel Milling also produces wheat bran, wheat germ, mill feed and an extensive line of specialty products. The company owns and operates five flour mills, a state-of-the-art research facility and pilot mill, a growing number of grain elevators, warehouses, two trucking fleets, truck washes and a truck/rail repair center.

“We believe our reputation is only as good as our people,” Tyrakowski said. “We are proud of our history, yet recognize that the world is changing and that we will have to change with it to survive. We are fortunate to have strong relationships with our growers/suppliers, and pride ourselves with providing quality, uniformity, and service to our customers, never resting on our laurels with continuous improvement always in mind.”

To learn more about the company and employment opportunities, visit www.Mennel.com and “Like” us on Facebook.