Nestled on the edge of the Central Minnesota area in Freeport, MN, is Swany White Flour Mill, owned by Gary & Sharon Thelen. Swany White Flour Mills is a local flour wholesaler and manufacturer, dedicated to providing high-quality flour products. “We offer quality flour products with our primary focus on keeping our customers satisfied with reliable service and competitive pricing,” explained Sharon.
Gary was born and raised in Freeport. “I first started helping my dad at the mill when I was a teenager, and later started as a full-time employee in 1976. I purchased the mill from my father in 1998 and am currently a third-generation owner.” Three generations can span a long time – and in the case of Swany White Flour Mill, the business has been in the family for more than 120 years, since 1903.
Swany White Flour Mill was originally built in the late 1800s by Anton Hoeschen. There were a few different owners in their first century of business, but in 1903, Hubert and Peter Thelen purchased the mill. After the brothers passed away, Hubert and Peter’s sons, Jack and Walter, took over. About ten years later, the cousins undertook an extensive remodel, adding a basement and a third story to their space. Recognizing an opportunity for expansion, they added a variety of products, doubled down on competitive pricing, and expanded into organic and specialty markets. In 1980, Swany White Flour Mill was entered into the National Register of Historic Sites; the Federal Government recognized the building and business as worthy of significance and preservation in American history, architecture, engineering, and culture. In 1998, Gary and his wife, Sharon, purchased the mill from his father, Walter.
On December 27, 2011, tragedy struck when a fire destroyed Swany White Flour Mill. “It was a sad day not only for all of us in the Thelen Family who ran the mill for over 100 years, but also for the entire community. Swany White Flour Mills was an icon of the Freeport skyline,” shared Gary. “And since the Swany White name had been around for over 100 years, our family decided it wasn’t time to let it die. So, we began construction of the new Swany White Flour Mill on June 12, 2012. We got back to work and reopened for business, and are thrilled about it.”
“Small business can be hard, but by far the most unforeseen thing was losing the original mill to a fire in 2011. It’s definitely not something you ever expect to go through, and certainly not an easy thing to go through. But owning my own business and being part of something that has been family-owned since 1903 makes everything worth it. I really enjoy getting to know the customers, both local and from afar, as well as regular visitors and those just passing through and curious to see what we have to offer,” Gary said.
You can find Swany White goods in a variety of local places, including Good Earth Food Co-op in St. Cloud, Minnesota Street Market and WR Home Company in St. Joe, True North in Melrose, and Eldon's Foods in Alexandria. “Lu's Cafe in Annandale serves our Swany White pancakes, and D'lish in Freeport sells and serves our products.”
“We're becoming known for our 'Swany White Pancake and Waffle Mix,’" Gary added. It's my Grandma's scratch pancake recipe made into a convenient mix that only requires you to add eggs and milk. Nearly everyone who tries them comes back for more; it's also becoming a popular gift item for the holidays.”
“A great thing about the Central MN community is our loyal customers; some of them have been shopping with us for generations. We’re always glad to have new visitors to our store in Freeport, but we also welcome you to check out (and shop) our website and follow us on Facebook. As a small business, we have limited resources for advertising, so if you've had our products and enjoyed them, telling all your friends would be appreciated!”
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