United Dairy Farmers is a family-founded dairy and convenience-store business that has made ice cream since opening its first store in 1940. It also operates a family bakery in Blue Ash, where its bakers make donuts and pastries fresh, and serves customers through nearly 200 stores in three states.
Stewart’s ShopsStewart’s Shops is a family- and employee-owned convenience-store company whose integrated operations include dairy, ice cream, food production, distribution, and retail. It began as an ice cream shop and grew to more than 400 stores across New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire; the Dake family continues to lead the company, and employees own more than 40% through its ESOP. Its Greenfield, New York plant processes milk from nearby family farms and makes products for its shops.SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY
United DairySince 1954, United Dairy has processed fresh milk and other dairy foods, along with beverages and frozen desserts, for the Tri-State Area and beyond. The family-owned company works with more than 300 local family dairies, sourcing milk from farms within 100 miles of its plants and moving products from farm to fridge in about 24 hours. United Dairy also develops custom ice-cream and yogurt mixes for private-label and co-packing customers in batches ranging from 3 to 400 gallons.MARTINS FERRY, OH
Holland Farms Bakery & DeliSince 1955, family-owned Holland Farms Bakery & Deli has been baking from scratch and preparing homemade deli food in Yorkville, now with a second location in Manlius. The business grew from John Piersma’s 1928 door-to-door milk route and remains a multigenerational Central New York institution, best known for its half-moon cookies and jelly buns. Today, founder’s granddaughter Heather Potrzeba runs the company with a staff of about 70.YORKVILLE, NY
Velvet Ice CreamFrom a basement confectionery in 1914 to more than five million gallons a year, Velvet Ice Cream makes premium ice cream in Utica, Ohio, still using the recipe Joseph Dager developed at the company’s founding. The family-owned business is now led by fourth-generation sisters Luconda and Joanne Dager and remains closely tied to Ye Olde Mill, its longtime home and visitor destination. Velvet distributes throughout the Midwest while welcoming more than 150,000 visitors annually to its headquarters.UTICA, OH