MYA was founded by Fred and Delores Mueller and Phil and Rosie Yurgae in 1975 as an Iowa-based food broker. 

Mueller Yurgae Associates was founded in 1975 when Fred Mueller and Phil Yurgae took a leap of faith and set out to build a brokerage business of their own. Fred had already established a strong reputation in the food industry after years of success in sales and leadership roles. Known for his ability to build relationships and develop talent, he had relocated to Iowa in the late 1960s to build a sales division from the ground up. During that time, he met Phil Yurgae, a young and driven salesperson whose persistence and work ethic quickly made an impression. 

As the industry began to change in the early 1970s, Fred saw an opportunity to build something different. He envisioned a brokerage that would serve as a trusted partner to both manufacturers and retailers, helping products reach the right shelves while building lasting business relationships. In 1975 he called Phil with the idea of starting a food brokerage together. Although the opportunity came with financial risk and uncertainty, Phil agreed to join him. With financial backing from family and the support of their wives, the two launched Mueller Yurgae Associates from a small office in Clive, Iowa. 

Over the decades, Mueller Yurgae Associates has grown alongside the clients and retailers it serves. What began as a small regional brokerage has expanded to represent clients across a wide variety of retail channels including grocery, convenience, mass, value, and specialty retailers. Strong partnerships with retailers helped establish MYA as a trusted partner in the marketplace. Today, Mueller Yurgae Associates represents many of the fastest-growing brands in the marketplace and continues to invest in new capabilities that support both clients and retail partners. While the tools and strategies have evolved, the mission remains the same: connect retailers and manufacturers by cultivating meaningful partnerships.