Gilster-Mary Lee history

By 1900, the Gilster Milling Company had reached $1,000,000 in sales.

In 1957, Don Welge, a great-nephew of the original Gilsters, joined the company.

The 1960’s saw the company begin to establish itself as a leading private label manufacturer.

By 1961 many of the original Gilster family members wished to withdraw from the business.

Gilster acquired the Trenton Milling Company of Trenton, Illinois in 1962, adding to its cake mix business.

In 1964, another great-nephew of the original Gilsters, Mike Welge, joined the company’s transportation division.

A disagreement as to the future position of Gilster within the Martha White organization arose in 1969.

Considerable private label baking mix business was added when several major competitors left the industry in the early 1970’s.

In November of 1971 the management and stockholders of Mary Lee Packaging took the majority position in the present day Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation.

In 1978 the company formed a joint venture with the Rustco Corporation in Denver, Colorado to make ready-to-spread frostings.

The 1980’s saw Gilster-Mary Lee enter several new product lines.

In 1981 Gilster purchased B&R Plastics to manufacture plastic tubs used in packaging ready-to-spread frostings.

The company joined the emerging private label ready-to-eat cereal business in 1983.

In 1985, Gilster also became the first producer of private label microwave popcorn.

In 1988 Gilster purchased the Party Pac Corporation of Marshalltown, Iowa.

In 1989 the company expanded its macaroni and cheese operations in Steeleville, Illinois to include a full line of pastas.

By 1991, the increasing transportation and warehousing challenges of a rapidly growing business required the company to revise its logistics system.

Gilster-Mary Lee also constructed its own box plant in 1992.

In the summer of 1993, the Mississippi River broke through the levee near McBride, Missouri.

Seeking to capitalize on another private label opportunity, Gilster began construction of a plant in Chester, Illinois to produce shredded wheat cereal in 1994.