United Dairymen of Arizona

What United Dairymen of Arizona does

United Dairymen of Arizona (UDA) is a member-owned dairy cooperative founded on January 1, 1960, through the merger of Arizona Milk Producers and Arizona Dairymen's League, headquartered and operating its processing facilities in Tempe, Arizona. The cooperative aggregates raw milk from Arizona dairy farm families and processes it at a single modern 24/7 manufacturing plant producing over 4 billion lbs of milk annually — over 1 million gallons per day across more than 200 truckloads. Its product portfolio spans commodity and specification dairy ingredients: nonfat dry milk (low, medium, and high heat), skim milk powder, milk protein concentrate (40% and 70%), butter (salted, unsalted, lactic), Grade A buttermilk powder, condensed skim milk, condensed buttermilk, lactose, Grade A sweet cream, skim milk, and raw whole milk, all sold in bulk B2B formats (truckload, 50 lb bags and totes, 25 kg and 20 kg bags and totes).

UDA serves three primary customer segments: food manufacturers (e.g., Schreiber Foods sourcing 3 million lbs daily as sole supplier of McDonald's preservative-free cheese, plus Shamrock and Fairlife), retail grocery chains (Bashas', Fry's), and export markets via a dedicated export logistics function. In addition to ingredient processing, UDA operates as a full-service cooperative providing member farms with installation, emergency repair, preventive maintenance, transportation, and access to chemicals, equipment, pharmaceuticals, animal health, nutrition, genetics, and seed supplies.

UDA generates revenue through bulk dairy ingredient sales on transaction/tonnage terms, with pricing held confidential and sales inquiries routed through [email protected]. The cooperative also monetizes sustainability infrastructure — member-farm methane digesters, a 31-truck CNG/RNG fleet fueled by partner landfill biogas, and 99.6% landfill diversion — both as cost efficiencies and as procurement credentials validated by EcoVadis Platinum (top 1% globally), SQF Level 2, A2LA, Kosher, and Halal certifications. The co-op recently launched OneDairy, a sales and trading sub-brand, to broaden commercial reach beyond the traditional member-supply milk marketing model.

Name

United Dairymen of Arizona

Legal name

United Dairymen of Arizona

Website

https://uda.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

United Dairymen of Arizona is a member-owned dairy cooperative founded in 1960 that processes over 4 billion pounds of milk annually at its Tempe, Arizona facility, selling bulk dairy ingredients — nonfat dry milk, milk protein concentrate, butter, cream, and lactose — to food manufacturers, retailers, and export markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dairy Ingredients Manufacturing

NAICS

Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Dry, Condensed, and Evaporated Dairy Product Manufacturing (311514), Creamery Butter Manufacturing (311512)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Fluid Milk & Cream Processing (AFAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dairy Ingredients (Whey, Lactose, Milk Powders) Wholesale (AFAIAEAG)

Keywords

• Dairy ingredient manufacturing
• Bulk milk processing
• Milk marketing cooperative
• Nonfat dry milk production
• Dairy commodity distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Tempe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Dairy Ingredient Sales: UDA processes and sells dairy ingredients including nonfat dry milk, milk protein concentrate, butter, cream, skim milk, condensed skim milk, lactose powder, and buttermilk powder. Products sold in bulk to manufacturers, retailers, and for export.
2. Milk Marketing Co-op: UDA is a milk marketing cooperative owned by Arizona dairy families. Founded in 1960, the co-op markets and sells high quality milk and dairy products for member farms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

United Dairymen of Arizona is a member-owned dairy marketing cooperative that aggregates raw milk from Arizona dairy farm families and processes it into bulk dairy ingredients at its 24/7 facility in Tempe, Arizona. It sells nonfat dry milk, milk protein concentrate, butter, cream, skim milk, condensed skim milk, lactose, and buttermilk powder in bulk formats (truckload, 50 lb bags/totes, 25 kg bags/totes, 20 kg bags/totes) to food manufacturers, grocery retailers, and export markets.

Product overview

United Dairymen of Arizona operates as a milk marketing cooperative with a modern manufacturing facility in Tempe, Arizona, running 24/7. The company produces a comprehensive portfolio of dairy ingredients including Nonfat Dry Milk (available in Low Heat, Medium Heat, and High Heat grades), Skim Milk Powder, Milk Protein Concentrate (40% and 70% varieties), Butter (salted and unsalted), Grade A Buttermilk Powder, and Lactose. The product line also includes fluid products such as Grade A Sweet Cream, Raw Milk, Condensed Skim Milk, and Skim Milk. All products are available in bulk formats including truckload, 50 lb bags/totes, 25 kg bags/totes, and 20 kg bags/totes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OneDairy: Sales and trading division created under Chief Commercial Officer Ashley Ellixson.

Products and services

• Nonfat Dry Milk (NFDM)

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• State Forty EightminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 April 2024UDA partnered with State Forty Eight, an Arizona clothing brand, for an exclusive shirt collaboration to raise funds for United Food Bank. For every shirt sold, $5 is contributed to United Food Bank to help secure milk and dairy products for food-insecure populations.
• United Food BankcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023UDA partners with United Food Bank to combat hunger and enhance food security in Arizona. Through various initiatives including Great Gallon Giveback program and State Forty Eight collaboration, UDA supports United Food Bank's mission to provide nutritious food including milk and dairy products to families in need.
• Huss BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Huss Brewing Company in Phoenix to recycle brewer's grains. Huss Brewing uses 100% of their grain byproduct which is fed to cows at James Boyle Dairy, contributing to sustainable farming practices.
• AgWest (Farm Credit West)minorOthersAgWest (Farm Credit West) is an advertiser in UDA Magazine, providing financial services to agricultural businesses including dairy farms.
• COBA/Select SiresminorOthersCOBA/Select Sires is an advertiser in UDA Magazine, providing dairy genetics and breeding services to member farms.
• Barkley SeedminorOthersBarkley Seed is an advertiser in UDA Magazine, providing seed and crop services to dairy farms.
• PhibrominorOthersPhibro Animal Health Corporation is an advertiser in UDA Magazine, providing animal health products and solutions to dairy farms.
• ImmucellminorOthersImmucell is an advertiser in UDA Magazine, providing products for calf health including First Defense gel caps.
• Virtus NutritionminorOthersVirtus Nutrition is an advertiser in UDA Magazine, providing dairy cattle nutrition solutions.
• AllflexminorOthersAllflex is an advertiser in UDA Magazine, providing livestock identification and monitoring technology.
• Farm Credit WestminorOthersFarm Credit West is an advertiser in UDA Magazine, providing financial services to agricultural operations.
• Vanguard RenewablesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVanguard Renewables is an advertiser in UDA Magazine, providing renewable energy solutions including manure digestion services.
• Western MillingminorOthersWestern Milling is an advertiser in UDA Magazine, providing feed ingredients and milling services.
• Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBTi validated UDA's science-based targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with Paris Agreement goals.
• National Dairy FARM ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUDA participates in the National Dairy FARM Animal Care Program, a nationwide verifiable animal well-being program ensuring consistent on-farm animal care and production practices. All UDA dairy producers are FARM certified.
• DairyKindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUDA uses DairyKind training platform to assist in training all dairy employees on animal handling and care practices, in partnership with a third-party veterinarian group.
• Safe Quality Food InstitutecoreTechnology or IntegrationUDA participates in SQF certification program to ensure products meet highest quality and food safety standards. Currently certified SQF Level 2.
• US Dairy (Innovation Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUDA is an adopter of the U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment, a voluntary pledge to demonstrate sustainability progress through industry-aligned action and reporting in environmental and social sustainability areas.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dairy Farmers of America: Largest U.S. dairy marketing cooperative, operating owned processing facilities that produce cheese, butter, powders, and ingredients for food manufacturers and export markets. Closely comparable to UDA on cooperative ownership model, ingredient portfolio, and B2B sales motion.
• Prairie Farms Dairy: Midwest/South dairy cooperative producing fluid milk, ice cream, and dairy ingredients through member farms and owned plants. Comparable on cooperative governance, ingredient manufacturing, and regional distribution model.
• Select Milk Producers: Regional dairy cooperative serving New Mexico, Texas, and the Southwest with milk marketing and processing operations. Comparable to UDA on regional cooperative structure, member-farm model, and ingredient focus in the same geographic corridor.
• Hilmar Cheese Company: Privately held dairy manufacturer producing cheese and dairy ingredients (whey, lactose) for food manufacturers and export markets. Comparable industrial-ingredient focus, B2B commercial model, and sustainability track record to UDA's ingredient business.
• California Dairies Inc. Member-owned dairy cooperative serving as a major Western U.S. milk processor producing butter, powder, and fluid products. Comparable regional cooperative model and ingredient mix to UDA, though larger and more diversified across dairy categories.
• Associated Milk Producers: Regional dairy cooperative supplying butter, cheese, and dairy ingredients to food manufacturers across the central U.S. Closely comparable to UDA's cooperative structure, ingredient portfolio, and manufacturer/government channel mix.
• Agri-Mark: Northeast dairy cooperative (parent of Cabot Creamery) producing cheese, butter, and dairy ingredients under member ownership. Comparable cooperative ownership, ingredient manufacturing, and food-manufacturer customer base; operates in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Schreiber Foods: Major privately held dairy processor and UDA's largest disclosed customer (3M lbs of milk/day; sole supplier of McDonald's preservative-free cheese). Comparable on B2B dairy ingredient manufacturing, QSR and CPG channels, and export presence—though Schreiber is a downstream processor and customer, not a raw-milk cooperative.
• Land O'Lakes: Member-owned agribusiness cooperative with a Dairy Foods segment producing butter, cheese, and ingredients. Comparable on cooperative governance and B2B ingredient supply, though diversified across crop inputs and foodservice at meaningfully larger scale.
• Leprino Foods: World's largest mozzarella manufacturer and a major global buyer of whey and milk ingredients, with extensive B2B exposure to QSR (e.g., McDonald's). Comparable ingredient-trading intensity and QSR anchor customers, but corporate (not cooperative) and far larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/udamilk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/udamilk

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 United Dairymen of Arizona