Hires Condensed Milk Co. Cass City Mich.

The Hires Condensed Milk Company, established in 1917, processed milk until Nestlé’s 1922 acquisition. After closure in 1953, the site transitioned through various uses, finally undergoing remediation to support new businesses and create 32 jobs, enhancing Cass City’s economy.

The Hires Condensed Milk Company in Cass City opened in 1917 at 6201 Church Street, capitalizing on the Thumb region’s thriving dairy industry. The plant processed condensed milk, a staple product in the early 20th century, essential for a shelf-stable dairy supply before the advent of modern refrigeration. In 1922, Nestlé acquired the facility, integrating it into its growing U.S. operations. Nestlé continued producing condensed milk at the plant until 1953, cementing the factory’s role in both local employment and national food supply chains.

The End of Hires Condensed Milk

After Nestlé closed the plant, the site saw renewed industrial use. Later, it housed an auto parts manufacturer—a common pivot in Michigan’s post-war industrial economy. Over time, however, the site became a brownfield, marked by suspected or known contamination typical of early 20th-century manufacturing facilities.

The Site Moves On To New Things

In recent years, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) recognized the site’s potential for revitalization. A state grant is now funding environmental remediation to clear the way for new warehouse and manufacturing space aimed at supporting local businesses. This redevelopment is expected to create 32 new jobs and attract $3.6 million in capital investment, breathing new life into a property that’s been part of Cass City’s economic landscape for over a century.

Sidebar: Did Hires Root Beer and Hires Condensed Milk Share a Parent Company?

A newly surfaced 1899 newspaper ad suggests that the Charles E. Hires Company, best known for its iconic root beer, also produced condensed milk under the same brand. The ad lists Hires Condensed Milk alongside Hires Root Beer, indicating that both products may have been marketed by the Philadelphia-based company at the turn of the century.

However, while this link confirms brand association on a national level, it remains unclear whether the Hires Condensed Milk Company plant in Cass City, Michigan, was directly operated by the Charles E. Hires Company or was an independently branded regional affiliate. Additional historical records would be needed to definitively tie the Cass City plant to Hires Root Beer production or corporate ownership.

For now, the connection remains a possibility, offering an intriguing glimpse into the brand diversification common in the food and beverage industry of the era.