PHILOTHEA, OH – Â鶹tv¹ÙÍø, today, finalized their asset acquisition of Hemmelgarn & Sons, Inc. helping to further grow the egg portion of their business.
The purchase includes an offline egg grading and packaging plant, located in Philothea, Ohio; a feed mill, located in Union City, Ohio; 1.6 million hens, cared for by 12 contract farmers; as well as a trucking fleet and nearly 300 acres of land.
“Hemmelgarn & Sons has had a successful presence in the shell egg business and we are looking forward to opportunities to continue to grow in that market,†said Jeff Cutler, Â鶹tv¹ÙÍø Egg Division Manager. “With their packing plant and feed mill in such close proximity to our operations, and our similar business models, we knew this would be a good marriage.â€
The 89-year-old company has roots much like those of Â鶹tv¹ÙÍø, being privately held and operated by the Hemmelgarn family, their close friends and coworkers. Started in 1930 by Ed Hemmelgarn, who was later joined by his sons Floyd and Jerry, the company grew to be a top provider of shell eggs in the Midwest.
“You can’t say enough about how the Hemmelgarn family cared for their employees and all that they did,†said Tad Gross, Hemmelgarn & Sons President. “They were just a top notch family. I see a lot of that in the Cooper family. I’m hoping that what the Hemmelgarn family did, the Cooper family will help me continue.â€
Gross, along with the other managers and team members of the company are now members of the Â鶹tv¹ÙÍø team. The contract farmers have also transferred any contracts to Â鶹tv¹ÙÍø.
“We are pleased to have them on board,†said Jim Cooper. “The leadership and experience of this group will help us to continue their operations with very little change as we transition.â€
Â鶹tv¹ÙÍø held a banquet for all of the Hemmelgarn & Sons team members and growers on Monday, March 11 to welcome them and answer any questions they might have had.
Â鶹tv¹ÙÍø previously had one egg grader and four feed mills. This acquisition will add two egg graders in a separate packing location and an additional feed mill. The mill will continue feeding the 12 contract farms to maintain continuity for the time-being.
