Oberweis Dairy
Oberweis Dairy is a family-owned Midwest premium dairy and ice cream producer operating 43 retail stores, a weekly home delivery subscription service across five states, grocery wholesale, and nationwide e-commerce shipping, vertically integrated from farm-sourced milk through in-house processing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1927
- HeadquartersNorth Aurora, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Oberweis Dairy does
Oberweis Dairy is a privately held, family-owned dairy and ice cream producer and retailer headquartered in North Aurora, Illinois, tracing its roots to Peter Oberweis selling milk from a horse-drawn wagon in 1915 and formally founded under its current name in 1927. The company operates a vertically integrated model spanning a single 1996-built production facility capable of tripling milk output and a tenfold increase in ice cream capacity, a network of 43 retail ice cream and dairy stores across three states (including co-located That Burger Joint and WoodGrain Pizzeria restaurant concepts), a subscription-style weekly home delivery service covering 300+ dairy and grocery SKUs across Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri (and historically Virginia and North Carolina), grocery wholesale to regional retailers, and nationwide direct-to-consumer e-commerce shipping of ice cream.
Core production technology is anchored on gentle pasteurization (minimum-heat processing to retain nutrients and flavor with no preservatives) and small-batch super premium ice cream production using 18% butterfat cream and 60% overrun, sourced from small family farms pledged to avoid artificial growth hormones and antibiotics. An iconic reusable glass bottle system (half-gallon and quart formats) is central to the home delivery experience and serves as both a functional insulator and a brand asset.
Revenue is generated across four streams — physical retail (one-time purchases), recurring weekly home delivery subscriptions, grocery wholesale, and nationwide e-commerce shipping — supplemented by catering (e.g., Sundae Bar To Go at $39.99), a fundraising program yielding 20% back to participating organizations, and a three-tier Happylicious Rewards loyalty program. The company is owned by the Hoffmann Family of Companies following a 2026 acquisition that also brought Cedar Crest Ice Cream into the portfolio, with Oberweis CEO Renato DePaolis taking leadership of Cedar Crest while both brands operate independently.
Oberweis Dairy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Oberweis Dairy
- Legal name
- The Oberweis Group Inc.
- Website
- https://oberweis.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1927
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Oberweis Dairy is a family-owned Midwest premium dairy and ice cream producer operating 43 retail stores, a weekly home delivery subscription service across five states, grocery wholesale, and nationwide e-commerce shipping, vertically integrated from farm-sourced milk through in-house processing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Oberweis Dairy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Dairy Products
- NAICS
- Dairy Product (except Frozen) Manufacturing (31151), Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520), Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (31152)
- SIC
- Dairy Products (2020), Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dairy-Based Beverages Manufacturing (Flavored Milk, Lassi, Drinkable Yogurt) (AFAKAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Drinkable Yogurt & Cultured Dairy Beverages (Lassi, Ayran, Probiotic Dairy) (AFAFAEAC)
Keywords
Where Oberweis Dairy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- North Aurora
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Oberweis Dairy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retail Ice Cream and Dairy Stores: Physical retail locations offering ice cream, dairy products, That Burger Joint (burger restaurant), and WoodGrain Pizzeria (Neapolitan pizza). Customers visit stores for takeout and delivery.
- Home Delivery Service: Weekly delivery of over 300 hand-selected dairy and grocery items delivered to customers' doors. Service offered throughout the Midwest in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan.
- Grocery Store Wholesale: Products sold through grocery store partners including Traditional Milk, Organic Milk, Lactose Free Milk, Drinks, and Ice Cream in various sizes.
- Nationwide Ice Cream Shipping: Ships 4-quart packages of ice cream directly to customers' doorsteps nationwide.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ice Cream Shipping - 4 Quarts |
| Subscription | Annual | Store Manager Positions |
| Subscription | Annual | Assistant Manager Positions |
| Per seat | Pay-as-you-go | Shift Leader Positions |
| Per seat | Pay-as-you-go | Crew Member Positions |
| Per seat | Pay-as-you-go | CDL Delivery Driver |
| Per seat | Pay-as-you-go | Home Delivery Driver |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Fundraising Program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Oberweis Dairy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Oberweis Dairy produces and distributes premium dairy products — including traditionally pasteurized milk in reusable glass bottles (Traditional, Organic, Lactose Free) and super premium small-batch ice cream — sourced from small family farms without artificial hormones or antibiotics. The company distributes through 43 retail ice cream and dairy stores in three states, a weekly home delivery subscription service across the Midwest, wholesale partnerships with grocery retailers, and nationwide direct shipping of 4-quart ice cream packages.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- That Burger Joint: A burger joint restaurant concept co-located under the same roof as Oberweis Ice Cream & Dairy Stores, serving juicy double patty burgers.
- WoodGrain Pizzeria
Products and services
- Traditional Oberweis Milk Pasteurized milk in reusable glass bottles (1/2 gallon and quart) sourced from small family farms without artificial growth hormones or antibiotics. Available via home delivery subscription, retail store, grocery store wholesale, and selectively at storefronts.
- USDA Certified Organic Milk USDA certified organic milk produced in addition to the Traditional Milk line, following the same gentle pasteurization approach.
- Lactose Free Milk Lactose free milk offering distributed through grocery store partners and home delivery channels.
- Super Premium Ice Cream Small-batch ice cream made with 18% butterfat and 60% overrun (one part air to every two parts cream), using cream from the same milk as the fluid milk product. Originally perfected by Joe Oberweis in 1951 and remains in production today.
- Home Delivery Service Recurring weekly delivery subscription of over 300 hand-selected dairy and grocery items delivered directly to customers' doors across Northern and Central Illinois, Central Indiana, St. Louis Missouri, South-Central Wisconsin, and metropolitan Detroit, Michigan.
- Nationwide Ice Cream Shipping Direct-to-consumer e-commerce offering that ships 4-quart packages of Oberweis super premium ice cream to customers' doorsteps anywhere in the United States for $45.99.
- Ice Cream Catering Catering service for events including Sundae Bar To Go kits priced at $39.99, suitable for parties, corporate events, and gatherings.
- That Burger Joint (Co-Located Restaurant) Burger restaurant concept co-located under the same roof as Oberweis Ice Cream & Dairy Stores, serving double patty burgers to retail customers and dine-in guests.
- WoodGrain Pizzeria (Co-Located Restaurant) Co-located fast-fired, authentic Neapolitan pizza concept offering fully customizable, hand-crafted pizzas made with 24-hour-prepared scratch dough.
- Oberweis Fundraising Program Fundraising program for schools, churches, sports teams, and community organizations enabling supporters to purchase Oberweis ice cream with participating organizations earning 20% back on purchases.
Companies that use Oberweis Dairy
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Oberweis Dairy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Oberweis Dairy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Cedar Crest Ice CreamcoreBoth Cedar Crest and Oberweis operate as distinct brands under Hoffmann Family's portfolio. Cedar Crest's manufacturing plant and parlor remain in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Renato DePaolis, CEO of Hoffmann Family-owned Oberweis Dairy, assumes leadership of Cedar Crest.
- Barron Collier CompaniesminorOberweis Ice Cream and Dairy is one of the first commercial tenants at Imperial 41, a mixed-use development in downtown Bonita Springs, Florida. The development features approximately 19,000 square feet of commercial space alongside 120 rental residences.
- Small Family Farms (Suppliers)coreOberweis partners with small-herd family farmers who supply fresh, antibiotic-free, raw milk. Farmers pledge to never use artificial growth hormones and only provide milk free of antibiotics. Each farmer is personally accountable for quality.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Oberweis Dairy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Organic Valley: Nationwide organic dairy cooperative marketing fluid milk, cultured dairy, and ice cream with strong retail distribution — a broader incumbent competitor to Oberweis's organic and traditional dairy product lines.
Direct peers
- Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: Premium artisanal ice cream maker with a growing retail scoop-shop footprint, nationwide e-commerce shipping, and grocery distribution — closely analogous to Oberweis's premium positioning, store model, and DTC shipping channel.
- Blue Bell Creameries: Texas-based regional premium ice cream and frozen dairy manufacturer with selective grocery distribution and a cult regional following — directly comparable to Oberweis's super-premium ice cream positioning and regional brand strength.
- Turkey Hill Dairy: Regional Pennsylvania-based dairy manufacturer of premium ice cream and fluid milk sold through grocery, foodservice, and home delivery — comparable Midwest-Adjacent regional dairy footprint with overlapping product mix (ice cream + milk + frozen dairy).
- Graeter's Ice Cream: Family-owned Cincinnati-based premium ice cream maker with proprietary French Pot process, a retail scoop-shop footprint, grocery wholesale, and direct shipping — directly comparable to Oberweis's premium ice cream positioning, multi-channel GTM, and Midwest roots.
- Prairie Farms Dairy: Midwest and Mid-South dairy cooperative producing fluid milk, ice cream, and cultured products distributed through grocery and foodservice — the closest direct peer in scale, channel mix, and geography to Oberweis's wholesale and retail dairy operations.
- Hiland Dairy: Midwest regional fluid milk, ice cream, and cultured dairy producer serving grocery and foodservice — directly comparable operating footprint and product mix for Oberweis's traditional fluid milk and grocery wholesale channel.
- Hudsonville Ice Cream: Michigan-based premium ice cream manufacturer with Midwest grocery distribution and retail presence — comparable regional Midwest premium frozen dessert maker with overlapping geographies.
- Cedar Crest Ice Cream: Wisconsin-based ice cream and frozen dessert manufacturer (founded 1976) now under the same Hoffmann Family of Companies parent as Oberweis following the 2026 acquisition — a sister-brand peer with adjacent Midwest geography and overlapping frozen dessert product lines.
Emerging players
- Stonyfield Farm: Organic yogurt, dairy-based beverage and milk producer with strong DTC, retail grocery, and digital-native brand marketing — an emerging premium-natural dairy peer whose channel mix overlaps Oberweis's home delivery and grocery wholesale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Oberweis Dairy social profiles
Digital presenceOberweis Dairy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Oberweis Dairy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Oberweis Dairy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Oberweis Dairy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Oberweis Dairy
What does Oberweis Dairy do?
Oberweis Dairy produces and distributes premium dairy products — including traditionally pasteurized milk in reusable glass bottles (Traditional, Organic, Lactose Free) and super premium small-batch ice cream — sourced from small family farms without artificial hormones or antibiotics. The company distributes through 43 retail ice cream and dairy stores in three states, a weekly home delivery subscription service across the Midwest, wholesale partnerships with grocery retailers, and nationwide direct shipping of 4-quart ice cream packages.
Is Oberweis Dairy a public or private company?
Oberweis Dairy is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Oberweis Dairy founded?
Oberweis Dairy was founded in 1927. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Oberweis Dairy based?
Oberweis Dairy is headquartered in North Aurora, United States, in the North America region.
How does Oberweis Dairy make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Retail Ice Cream and Dairy Stores are the primary driver. The others are home Delivery Service, grocery Store Wholesale and nationwide Ice Cream Shipping.
Who are Oberweis Dairy's main competitors?
Organic Valley is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, Blue Bell Creameries, Turkey Hill Dairy, Graeter's Ice Cream, Prairie Farms Dairy, Hiland Dairy, Hudsonville Ice Cream and Cedar Crest Ice Cream. Stonyfield Farm is listed as an emerging player.
Does Oberweis Dairy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Oberweis Dairy.
What industry is Oberweis Dairy in?
Oberweis Dairy's product category is Dairy Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKAKAH, Dairy-Based Beverages Manufacturing (Flavored Milk, Lassi, Drinkable Yogurt), with a secondary code of AFAFAEAC, Drinkable Yogurt & Cultured Dairy Beverages (Lassi, Ayran, Probiotic Dairy). Its NAICS code is 31151 and its SIC code is 2020.