Corporate Headquarters

Quincy is the corporate headquarters location for several major retail and manufacturing companies. Here is a look at a few of our “hometown business heroes.”

Manufacturing

Gardner Denver
www.gardnerdenver.com
Gardner Denver began as Gardner Governor Company in 1859 with the introduction of a new product that provided the first effective speed control for steam engines. With 2005 revenues of $1.2 billion, Gardner Denver is a leading worldwide manufacturer of reciprocating, rotary and vane compressors, liquid ring pumps and blowers for various industrial and transportation applications, and pumps used in the petroleum and industrial markets.

Knapheide Manufacturing Company
www.knapheide.com
The Knapheide Manufacturing Company was founded when H. Heinrich Knapheide opened the Henry Knapheide Wagon Company in 1848. This small wagon company grew rapidly with the help of Knapheide’s son, Henry E. Knapheide and is now a sixth generation family owned business. H.W. (Knap) Knapheide, III took over in 1980 and now teams with H.W. (Bo) Knapheide, IV. The company is one of the nation's premier producers of steel service truck bodies and platform/stake style truck bodies. Knapheide built a new 400,000 sq. ft. plant in Quincy in 1996 and employs nearly 1,000 people locally.

Titan International Inc.
www.titan-intl.com
Titan’s tradition in Quincy traces its roots to 1890 with the Electric Wheel Company. Founded by Quincyan John A. Stillwell and three associates, the company originally produced wheels for wagons and farm implements, later progressing into the manufacture of wagons, tractors and other implements. Titan has evolved over the last hundred years into a leading global supplier of complete tire and wheel assemblies for off-highway vehicles, entering the tire market in 1993. The company has four major markets including agriculture, consumer, earthmoving/construction, and military applications. Titan, with more than 1,000 employees locally, is Quincy’s largest manufacturing employer.

Retail

Farm and Home Supply
www.farmandhomesupply.com
Mr. & Mrs. Floyd Baker and Mr. & Mrs. Karl Bowles opened Quincy Farm Supply in 1960 as a “one-stop” store. Since then, the company has grown to seven stores in Quincy, Jacksonville, Jerseyville, Pittsfield and Springfield, Illinois; Hannibal, Missouri; and Keokuk, Iowa. Still family owned and headquartered in Quincy, “A Farm Store and So Much More,” is built on family values with a great understanding of the farm and country lifestyle.

Kirlin’s, Inc.
www.kirlins.com
In 1948, Dale T. Kirlin and his wife Marian, opened their first candy store called “Andes Candies” near the corner of 6th and Maine in uptown Quincy, selling greeting cards and candy. Business has been booming ever since. With more than 100 retail stores in the Midwest, Kirlin’s is now the largest independent Hallmark distributor in the USA, and continues to maintain its corporate headquarters in downtown Quincy. Kirlin’s prides itself on customer service and credits its success to not only meeting the customer’s needs, but exceeding them…values learned right here at home.

Niemann Foods, Inc.
www.discountfoods.com
In 1917 Ferd Niemann, Sr. and Steve Niemann opened their first grocery store in Quincy. By 1930, they were operating 10 corner grocery stores and a thriving wholesale business. In 1940 Niemann Foods, Inc. introduced its first full service supermarket. Today, over 60 retail stores in four states serve their respective communities. NFI remains headquartered in Quincy and operates under the names of County Market, Cub Foods, and Save-A-Lot, and owns a number of convenience stores.