Hemme Brothers Farmstead Creamery
Hemme Brothers Farmstead Creamery, Accomplishing Lots with Limited Costs
Sandra Yerges
In Missouri and the surrounding area, the locals prioritize the search for home-grown gems. Except in this environment, their valued findings are agricultural products from growers and producers in the region. Thousands of shoppers obtain these goods at farmers markets, two of which are frequently visited by Hemme Brothers Farmstead Creamery. Even though there is plenty to see at these sales, Hemme Brothers makes a large impact simply by being there.
“We’re the only cheese vendors at each market, so we kind of got the market corner there,” Co-Owner Nathan Hemme explained.
Despite being a standout aspect of their current operation, the Hemme family has not always been producing cheese. In fact, their eight-year journey in the value-added product sphere is only a fraction of the time they have been involved in agriculture. For a while, the milk produced by their dairy cattle was only offered for sale. However, leading up to the establishment of their creamery operation in August of 2016, the three Hemme brothers, Jon, Michael, and Nathan, and their parents banded together to turn their existing milk into more profitable cheese products.
As they all fell into their respective roles, the Hemmes have since created a vertically integrated system that maximizes the hands-on expertise of each member. The preparatory tasks surrounding animal feed and care are taken on by Jon and Michael, respectively. Each of them works to sustain either a healthy environment for the crops or cattle to ultimately produce high-quality milk.
Once the milk is collected, it is Nathan’s turn to step into the cheese production role. With multiple kinds of cheese to prepare, including cheddar, feta, quark, and mozzarella, there is plenty of work cut out for him. Rounding out the final stage of the operation is David Hemme, the father of the Hemme brothers. His job is focused on managing the small and mid-size retail outlets that sell bulk cheese orders in their shops.
These wholesale customers along with their farmers market, local cheese shop, and e-commerce visitors are in for a treat when they experience Hemme Brothers cheese for the first time. Not only is it because of the creaminess that comes through every bite, but it also is derived from the company’s long-term marketing viewpoint.
Nathan admitted that the team was not well equipped with branding expertise at the start as their true motivation came from farming. The work was better cut out for professionals, so they looked to a marketing company for help. Fortunately, their goal of creating head-turning branding was accomplished as it has been known as the main reason customers feel compelled to buy Hemme Brothers cheese.
“Once they’ve tried it, the quality will bring them back,” Nathan concluded.
This branding choice is a prime example of the Hemme family’s focus on the marketing and creation of their value-added products. Their emphasis on these qualities is what made Hemme Brothers Farmstead Creamery a perfect candidate for the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG).
Receiving the grant in August of 2021, exactly five years after the creamery began, was another company milestone added to this summer month. Although there could have been a myriad of ways to use the $242,000 they received, the Hemmes followed the pandemic-driven business trend with the funding.
Because product accessibility at that time was contingent on the Internet, they knew that prioritizing their e-commerce platform would be crucial to maintaining a steady business. The public remained close to home, so keeping the company’s online reach in mind was helpful in meeting the customers wherever they were. Hemme Brothers also encouraged the exchange of support while joining a small selection of Community Supported Agriculture programs, all of which were supported by the VAPG.
When making these sales-related decisions, it only made sense that the business looked into updating their marketing with the grant funding as well. Without the typical financial constraints weighing them down, the Hemmes were able to welcome new marketing assistance, finalize updated packaging designs, and secure packaging materials that represented the growth of their brand.
Given the country’s economic changes over the past few years, Hemme Brothers could have easily been left at a standstill on their path to advancement. Nonetheless, it was the VAPG that acted as a barrier to the cost increases of the time. Nathan expressed that their creamery had the benefit of being “almost inflation-proof through that period” in a way that kept them reaching higher heights as a company.
“We were able to cash flow while we were building our business without having to go out and borrow money,” he shared.
Even for progressing operations, the VAPG can keep possibilities alive. To reap the benefits of a protective grant like this, Nathan indicated that producers must stand behind the plans they create. It may require the development of a broad business analysis to reach this level of confidence, but it will be valuable in rising above future costly endeavors.
