Mennel Celebrates 140 Years of Bringing Our Best
September 28, 2026
Today, we proudly celebrate The Mennel Milling Company’s 140th anniversary and recognize the generations of employees, customers, farmers, partners, and communities that have contributed to our success.
Founded in Fostoria, Ohio, on September 28, 1886, the company has grown from a single flour mill into an integrated company with nearly 1,000 employees and over 30 locations across seven states.
For Ford Mennel, our President and CEO and the fifth generation of his family to lead the company, the anniversary represents both an accomplishment and a responsibility.
“Every milestone is important to celebrate with our team because it represents years of hard work and resiliency,” Ford said. “It is not easy to build a company that can endure market swings, regulatory evolution, and geopolitical upheaval. It requires generations of good stewardship and a continued focus on our people, customers, facilities, and communities.”
Our story began with the founding of The Harter Milling Company in Fostoria. In 1917, Alphonse Mennel and his sons, Louis and Mark, purchased the company and renamed it The Mennel Milling Company, establishing a tradition of family leadership. Future generations of Mennel leaders, Donald L. and Donald M., expanded our flour milling capabilities, invested in grain operations and research and development, and built a transportation network to better support our customers.
More recent growth has added bakery mix production, packaging, warehousing, property maintenance services, and other capabilities that have created a more connected and dependable supply network. Today, flour remains the foundation of our business. We produce hard, spring, and soft wheat flours, custom flour blends and bakery mixes used by bakeries, food manufacturers, restaurant, and other customers across the United States and around the world.
Although consumers may not always see the Mennel name on store shelves, our employees play an important role in helping feed families every day. The impact of Mennel’s work can also be seen in the relationships we have built, the standards we maintain and the responsibility we accept as part of the food industry.
“Our industry is made up of companies of many shapes and sizes, but we can come together for the common good while competing vigorously to maintain our independence,” Ford said. “Being a fair and honest competitor while serving as a responsible steward of food safety, human health and sound nutrition provides value not only to our marketplace, but to society.”
We continue to invest in research and development, food safety, modern facilities, transportation, and supply-chain capabilities. These investments help us understand our customers’ needs and deliver products that meet precise requirements, perform consistently, and arrive when expected.
Our 140-year story is ultimately about people. Generations of employees have brought their experience, determination, and pride to work each day, helping us serve our customers, overcome challenges and prepare for the future. As a family-owned company, we remain committed to making decisions with a long-term perspective.
“Being a stable, family-owned company that takes the long view and does not react to every market shift or passing trend brings value to our employees,” Ford said. “With so much change in the world, knowing their employer is focused on being here for the long term can provide a meaningful sense of security.”
That commitment extends to the communities where our employees live and work. Our company and employees support local organizations and community needs through financial contributions, volunteerism, and everyday involvement and contributions.
“Mennel is often a quiet force in the communities where we operate,” Ford said. “We support our communities through financial contributions, volunteerism and simply being good neighbors. We do not attach our name to everything we do, but being a reliable contributor day in and day out is important to every community.”
While this anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect, we remain focused on what comes next. We continue to invest in our people, facilities, technology, and integrated operating network to strengthen our company and create opportunities for future generations.
“I believe there is tremendous opportunity for a company focused on the long term,” Ford said. “The longer we continue investing, the greater our ability to build upon and compound the results of the generations that came before us.”
Reaching 140 years represents the trust we have built through long-standing relationships, the resilience our team has demonstrated through changing conditions and our shared responsibility to leave the company stronger for those who will carry it forward.
As we celebrate this milestone, we extend our sincere appreciation to everyone that has been part of our first 140 years. Your hard work and continued support have made this milestone possible.
Explore the defining moments and investments that have shaped our company by visiting the Mennel history timeline.
