In a very emotional delivery on Tuesday at the American Legion Paul Hasenbeck Post 317 hall, Hilke’s Ice owners Laron and Donna Hilke announced they sold the business to Home City Ice of Cincinnati, Ohio. The sale closed on Tuesday, and details of the deal were not released.

 

“After 51 years of business, we have sold the ice company due to the fire,” Hilke said, noting he has been good friends with the owners of the 101-year-old family-operated business. “They went ahead and took the reins today. I want to thank everybody in Central Missouri for their loyalty; 51 years is a long time.”

 

He also expressed gratitude to all the ice companies across the United States that stepped in to help Hilke’s Ice after the fire, especially Home City. “They were one of the main ones that stepped up,” Laron said, adding that Tiger Ice in Columbia also provided ice.

 

Laron carried on the legacy built by his parents, John and Marie Hilke, who started the business in 1974.

 

“I want to thank all the employees that’s with me, and that were with me over the years,” Laron said. “We had a great relationship. Thank you to the customers, too.”

 

Home City Regional Manager Jim Trego, based in St. Louis, noted the company plans to retool and add onto the Hilke building in Eldon. That gives the Ohio firm an opportunity to make ice in Central Missouri.

 

Trego said the ice will be similar to what Hilke’s Ice has produced for the last 51 years. “There are a couple of different types of styles of ice that you can make,” he said. “In the end, our recipes aren’t much different. Water and electricity will make a good bag of ice.”

 

He added that equipment is pretty standardized throughout the industry.

 

In addition to the Eldon facility, Home City Ice purchased Hilke’s warehouse in Cuba.

 

Laron said his employees were shocked to hear the news of the sale, but Trego noted that Home City plans to offer Hilke’s employees jobs. “We are talking to every employee, and it is our goal to bring on everyone that wants to come work for us and that qualifies to work for us,” he said. “Larry and Donna employed a lot of really good people, and we need really good people to continue operating in this part of Missouri. We’re excited to bring all their people into our family.”

 

Additional information will be published in this week’s Unterrified Democrat.