Cleveland-area company buys 92-year-old Green Bay-area paper merchant
An Ohio-based paper and packaging supplier will expand into Wisconsin by acquiring a Green Bay-area paper merchant.
Millcraft Paper CompanyA 106-year-old Cleveland-area firm expects to complete its 92-year-old acquisition Steen Macek Paper Inc. Until February 28. Terms of the pending deal were not disclosed.
Brothers-in-law Ben Steen and Joseph Macek founded the paper products distributor, which throughout its history has sold both tissue and industrial papers primarily to customers in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, according to a news release and Press-Gazette archives.
The acquisition announcement suggested that the merger was a partnership between two family businesses that shared a commitment to investing in workforce, product lines and infrastructure to support future growth.
“Steen Macek Paper has earned the trust of its customers by putting people first and consistently providing exceptional service,” Millcraft CEO Travis Mlakar said in a press release. “This philosophy aligns perfectly with the way Millcraft has operated for over a century.”
Millcraft Marketing Manager Kim Cronk said Steen-Macek’s 20 employees were working at 3224 Market St. in Ashwaubenon. He said that he will continue to work at his facility at and that no layoffs are planned.
Steen Macek customers will continue to work with the same people after the acquisition and should benefit from greater access to resources, inventory, product lines and technology to meet their needs, the news release said.
Steen Macek is expanding its distribution and retail operations into Wisconsin on behalf of Millcraft. Following the acquisition, Millcraft will operate 22 retail stores in cities in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin. It will also have nine chapters in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
Steen Macek and Millcraft sell and distribute a variety of paper products and supplies to commercial customers, from office supplies to more specialty paper products. Both Steen Macek and Millcraft are independent traders who work with various paper mills to sell paper products and packaging to a wide range of commercial customers.
Millcraft’s repertoire extends beyond paper products. It also provides customers with large format printing services, packaging and branding services for the craft beverage industry, apparel and packaging materials.
Contact business reporter Jeff Bollier at (920) 431-8387 or jbollier@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @JeffBollier.
This article first appeared in the Green Bay Press-Gazette: Ohio company buys 92-year-old paper merchant in Green Bay area
