Siemer Shares History of Milling Company

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Published on February 1 2019 3:01 pm
Last Updated on February 1 2019 3:01 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

As part of their First Friday Luncheon series, the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce holds quarterly Business Spotlight sessions to focus on the businesses and industries in the county. 

The February Luncheon focused Friday on Siemer Milling Company. The Teutopolis-based flour milling industry has been operating for more than 135 years, and now also has operations in Kentucky and Indiana.

(SIEMER MILLING COMPANY PRESIDENT RICK SIEMER)

If you're familiar with Grandma's Cookies, McDonald's Chicken McNuggets, TGI Friday's Fry Batter Mix, Nestle's Toll House Cookies, Duncan Hines Layer Cake Mix and hundreds of other products, you've eaten flour milled by Siemer's. 

Siemer Milling Company President Rick Siemer said the business uses 24 million bushels of soft red winter wheat bought from the area and utilizes 752 thousand tons of flour and co-products valued at $126 million. Siemer's ancestors Clemens Uptmor and Joseph Siemer started the company.

The company has a $10 million payroll. Under an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, one-third of the company is employee-owned.

Siemer Milling continues to grow, including at the Teutopolis location where they are completing a project to add bulk flour storage. The storage facility should be completed this year.