What HP Hood does

HP Hood LLC is a privately held U.S. dairy processor founded in 1846 and headquartered at Six Kimball Lane in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. The company produces and distributes a portfolio of dairy products — milk, ice cream, cottage cheese, sour cream, cream, and eggnog — and holds the #1 dairy brand position in New England across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, with extended distribution across the broader Northeastern United States. The product portfolio spans wholly-owned brands (Hood, Crowley Foods, Heluva Good!, Simply Smart Milk, Hoodsie Cups, New England Creamery) and licensed/co-manufactured brands (LACTAID lactose-free, HERSHEY'S Milk and Milkshakes, Blue Diamond Almond Breeze, Planet Oat plant-based frozen desserts), supported by manufacturing facilities including an ENERGY STAR-certified fluid milk plant in Agawam, Massachusetts and a Sacramento, California protein-drink facility.

The company's core technology centers on dairy processing and a proprietary packaging innovation — the LightBlock Bottle — an opaque registered industrial design that blocks over 97% of light to prevent light-induced oxidation and preserve fresh taste. Quality inputs are sourced from farmers who pledge not to use artificial growth hormones, and the company emphasizes premium milk and cream as a recurring ingredient across categories. Recent product launches include Hood Cottage Cheese Medleys (single-serve protein snacking, 2023) and the IDFA Most Innovative Ice Cream Flavor winner Newport Blueberry Lemonade Crumble (2026).

HP Hood generates revenue through traditional consumer packaged goods distribution, selling one-time purchases of dairy products via retail grocery chains and convenience stores (with a store locator on hood.com) and through a secondary food service channel anchored by Hood Cream and celebrity chef partnerships. The company employs 1,001–5,000 people, operates as a single Massachusetts LLC with no parent company or outside institutional investor disclosed, and pursues brand growth through a multi-channel marketing mix spanning recipe content, social media, email, sports partnerships (New England Patriots, Boston Police Department's Operation Hoodsie), and community programs (Hood Milk Sportsmanship Scholarship, Heart of It All food bank donations).

Name

HP Hood

Legal name

HP Hood LLC

Website

https://hood.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1846

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

HP Hood is a 179-year-old privately held U.S. dairy processor and the #1 dairy brand in New England, producing milk, ice cream, cottage cheese, sour cream, cream, and eggnog for retail grocery, convenience, and food service customers across the Northeast.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dairy Products

NAICS

Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Dairy Product (except Frozen) Manufacturing (31151), Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520), Fluid Milk Manufacturing (311511)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020), Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)

akta.pro primary industry

Fluid Milk & Cream Beverages (Whole/Skim, Half-and-Half) (AFAFAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Yogurt & Cultured Dairy (Yogurt, Kefir, Sour Cream, Cottage Cheese) (CRADACAB), Dairy-Based Beverage Production (Milk Drinks, Yogurt Drinks, Lassi) (AFAFABAJ), Functional & Fortified Dairy Drinks (Vitamins/Minerals, Lactose-Free, A2, Added Fiber) (AFAHAIAE), Lactose-Free & A2 Dairy Beverages (AFAFAEAE)

Keywords

• Dairy products
• Fluid milk processing
• Ice cream manufacturing
• Cottage cheese production
• Retail dairy distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Lynnfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Dairy Product Sales: HP Hood generates revenue through the sale of dairy products including milk, ice cream, cottage cheese, sour cream, cream, and eggnog through retail grocery stores and convenience stores across New England and the Northeastern United States.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HP Hood produces, packages, and distributes branded dairy products—including fluid milk, ice cream, cottage cheese, sour cream, cream, and eggnog—primarily through retail grocery stores and convenience stores across New England and the Northeastern United States. The portfolio also spans licensed and acquired brands (LACTAID, HERSHEY'S Milk and Milkshakes, Blue Diamond Almond Breeze, Crowley Foods, Heluva Good!, Simply Smart Milk) plus protein drinks and plant-based frozen desserts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• New England Creamery: Regional ice cream brand featuring New England-inspired flavors like Bear Creek Caramel, Boston Vanilla Bean, Cape Cod Fudge Shop, and Newport Blueberry Lemonade Crumble.
• Crowley Foods
• Simply Smart Milk
• Heluva Good!
• LACTAID
• HERSHEY'S Milk and Milkshakes
• Blue Diamond Almond Breeze
• Hoodsie Cups
• LightBlock Bottle

Products and services

• Hood Milk (LightBlock Bottle) Premium fluid milk packaged in HP Hood's proprietary LightBlock Bottle that blocks more than 97% of light to prevent light-induced oxidation and preserve fresh taste; sourced from farmers pledging not to use artificial growth hormones. Sold to retail consumers across New England and the Northeastern US.
• Hood Ice Cream (New England Creamery) Branded ice cream line featuring New England-inspired flavors (e.g., Newport Blueberry Lemonade Crumble, Bear Creek Caramel, Boston Vanilla Bean, Cape Cod Fudge Shop); distributed through retail grocery and convenience stores.
• Hood Cottage Cheese (including Cottage Cheese Medleys) Creamy cottage cheese in a variety of flavors, including the single-serve Cottage Cheese Medleys mix-in line extension with 13g+ protein per serving; sold to retail consumers for snacking and cooking.
• Hood Sour Cream (including Sour Cream Squeeze) Sour cream in traditional tubs and a squeezable Squeeze format, used by consumers for cooking, baking, and topping applications.
• Hood Cream Heavy cream and related cream products sold through retail grocery and used by chefs and food service operators as a culinary ingredient. Featured in the Chef Creations Inspired by Hood Cream campaign with celebrity chefs.
• Hood Eggnog Seasonal eggnog product made with Hood's high-quality milk and cream, distributed through retail grocery and promoted via the Hood Eggnog Holiday Giveaway campaign.
• Hoodsie Cups Iconic single-serve chocolate and vanilla ice cream cups launched in 1947, sold through grocery and convenience stores across New England.
• Crowley Foods Dairy Products Dairy products sold under the wholly owned Crowley Foods brand in the HP Hood portfolio.
• Heluva Good! Dairy Products Dairy products (including sour cream and dips) sold under the wholly owned Heluva Good! brand in the HP Hood portfolio.
• Simply Smart Milk Milk sold under the wholly owned Simply Smart Milk brand in the HP Hood portfolio.
• LACTAID Milk Lactose-free dairy products manufactured under the LACTAID brand within the HP Hood portfolio.
• HERSHEY'S Milk and Milkshakes Licensed milk and milkshake products sold under the Hershey's brand through the HP Hood portfolio.
• Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Licensed almond milk products sold under the Blue Diamond Almond Breeze brand through the HP Hood portfolio.
• Planet Oat Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert Plant-based frozen dessert products sold under the wholly owned Planet Oat brand, including recalled Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl varieties.
• HP Hood Protein Drinks (MUSCLE MILK) Ready-to-drink protein beverages including MUSCLE MILK products manufactured at HP Hood's Sacramento, California facility.

Quantifiable outcome

• First fluid dairy processing plant to receive ENERGY STAR certification
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New England PatriotscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 October 2025Three-year partnership making Hood the Official Milk and Sour Cream Partner of the New England Patriots. Combines two iconic New England brands for marketing and promotional initiatives.
• Boston Police DepartmentminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 July 2025Operation Hoodsie program entering its 15th year, bringing Hood ice cream to Boston neighborhoods through police-community outreach.
• ENERGY STAR / EPAcoreOthers · 7 October 2019HP Hood's Agawam, Massachusetts plant became the first fluid dairy processor to receive ENERGY STAR certification from the EPA.
• The Sports Museum at TD GardenminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 May 2017Sportsmanship Exhibit inside The Sports Museum at TD Garden featuring Hood Milk Sportsmanship Scholarship winners.
• Celebrity Chefs (Chris Coombs, Ben Lloyd, Jeff Landry)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2016Chef Creations Inspired by Hood Cream campaign partnering with local celebrity chefs to showcase Hood Cream in culinary applications. Chefs created dishes for Hood Cream Food Truck tour and eCookbook.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Dairy Farmers of America: Large U.S. dairy cooperative that processes and markets fluid milk, cheese, and cultured dairy products. Comparable to HP Hood as a major branded dairy manufacturer with national distribution and dairy-farmer supply relationships.
• Land O'Lakes: Member-owned dairy cooperative with a broad branded portfolio spanning butter, fluid milk, and dairy ingredients. Comparable as a large, diversified branded dairy operator with farmer-aligned sourcing.

Direct peers

• Dean Foods / Borden Dairy: Major U.S. fluid milk processor with deep retail grocery distribution. Closely comparable to HP Hood's Hood Milk business in product category, customer base, and grocery channel go-to-market.
• Turkey Hill Dairy: Regional U.S. dairy manufacturer producing ice cream, fluid milk, and cultured dairy under a branded portfolio. Comparable to HP Hood's mix of fluid and frozen dairy under a single regional brand family.
• Friendly's Ice Cream: Iconic New England ice cream brand with retail and foodservice channels. Comparable to HP Hood's Hood and New England Creamery ice cream franchises in regional brand equity and flavor-led innovation.

Regional players

• Cabot Creamery: New England/Vermont-based dairy cooperative producing fluid milk, butter, cottage cheese, and sour cream. Directly comparable to HP Hood on regional New England footprint, fluid milk, and cultured dairy products.
• Garelick Farms: Northeast-focused fluid milk and dairy beverage processor serving retail and food service. Directly comparable to HP Hood in fluid milk category and Northeast grocery distribution.
• Hood River Creamery / Umpqua Dairy: Pacific Northwest fluid milk and ice cream processor with branded regional presence. Comparable to HP Hood as a privately held regional dairy brand operating fluid and frozen lines.

Emerging players

• Stonyfield Farm: Organic yogurt and cultured dairy brand owned by Lactalis. Comparable to HP Hood in cultured dairy (yogurt, sour cream adjacencies), premium positioning, and food retail distribution.

Others

• Blue Diamond Growers: Almond cooperative and licensor of Almond Breeze plant-based beverages, which HP Hood produces under license. Comparable as a counterpart in HP Hood's plant-based licensing strategy and as a head-to-head competitor in shelf-stable dairy alternatives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hphood
• Facebookfacebook.com/hphood
• Instagraminstagram.com/hphood

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HP Hood