Kemps LLC

What Kemps LLC does

Kemps LLC is a privately held regional dairy manufacturer founded in 1914 and headquartered in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. The company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), one of the largest U.S. dairy cooperatives with more than 12,500 farmer-members. Kemps produces a comprehensive portfolio of dairy products organized into eight categories: fluid milk and cream (including the Protein+ ultra-filtered lactose-free sub-brand), sour cream and dips, cottage cheese, yogurt and beverages, ice cream (Core, Crafted Collection premium, seasonal, and bulk formats), frozen yogurt, sherbet, and frozen novelties (including Kempswich ice cream sandwiches and IttiBitz kids' treats with Disney/Marvel licensing). The company also operates The Giving Cow Project, a social impact initiative distributing shelf-stable milk to food banks across nine states, and runs the Kemps Giving Cow Foundation (501c3) with over $500,000 contributed to 70+ community organizations.

Kemps' core technology is dairy processing and manufacturing - transforming raw milk sourced from local farm families into finished branded dairy products, with a stated fresh-product timeline of farm-to-shelf within 48 hours. The company operates manufacturing facilities including a dedicated ice cream plant in Rochester, Minnesota (with segregated production rooms for allergen control). Its business model is primarily B2B/B2C retail distribution: selling branded dairy products through retail grocery chains and independent stores across an eight-state upper Midwest footprint (MN, WI, ND, IA, IL, MI, NE, SD), supplemented by foodservice distribution to restaurants and institutional buyers, K-12 school milk supply via the DFA School Milk program, and a direct-to-consumer branded merchandise storefront (Kemps Merch Barn). Pricing is set by individual retailers rather than centrally controlled by Kemps. Licensed brand partnerships (Moose Tracks, Caribou Coffee) extend product reach without internal IP development costs. Revenue is diversified across retail, foodservice, institutional, and emerging channels with no publicly disclosed revenue figure.

Name

Kemps LLC

Legal name

Kemps LLC

Website

https://kemps.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Kemps LLC is a 100% farmer-owned regional dairy manufacturer (subsidiary of Dairy Farmers of America) producing fluid milk, ice cream, cottage cheese, cultured products, and frozen novelties for retail grocery, foodservice, and school milk customers across an eight-state upper Midwest footprint.

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)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Yogurt & Cultured Dairy (Yogurt, Kefir, Sour Cream, Cottage Cheese) (CRADACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Milk (Fluid & Shelf-Stable) (CRADACAA), Dairy-Based Frozen Novelties Manufacturing (Bars, Sandwiches, Cones) (AFAHAEAG)

Keywords

• Dairy products manufacturing
• Fluid milk processing
• Ice cream production
• Farmer-owned cooperative
• Dairy distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Louis Park

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Dairy Products: Kemps generates revenue through the sale of dairy products including fluid milk, ice cream, cottage cheese, sour cream, yogurt, and frozen novelties through retail grocery stores across the upper Midwest.
2. Foodservice: Commercial sales to foodservice operations including restaurants, catering, and institutional buyers.
3. Merchandise: Sale of branded apparel and accessories through the Kemps Merch Barn, with $1 from each product benefiting the Kemps Foundation.
4. School Milk: Supply of milk products to schools through the DFA School Milk program.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kemps LLC manufactures and distributes a broad portfolio of dairy products — fluid milk, cream, sour cream, dips, cottage cheese, yogurt, ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet, and frozen novelties — sourced from family farms in the upper Midwest. The company sells consumer products through retail grocery stores and foodservice distributors, operates the Giving Cow Project to distribute shelf-stable milk to food banks, and runs a branded merchandise storefront. Distribution is supported through DFA School Milk for K-12 schools and an online foodservice ordering platform.

Product overview

Kemps LLC is a 100% farmer-owned dairy cooperative brand of Dairy Farmers of America, producing a comprehensive portfolio of dairy products since 1914. The company operates as a single unified product portfolio organized by category rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core offerings include Fluid Milk & Cream (encompassing Protein+ ultra-filtered milk sub-brand with lactose-free varieties, Select conventional milk, and flavored milk), Sour Cream & Dips, Cottage Cheese (with high-protein single-serve options), Yogurt & Beverages, Ice Cream (divided into Core, Crafted Collection premium, Seasonal, and bulk Pails/Pints), Frozen Yogurt, Sherbet, and Novelties (including licensed Kempswich sandwiches and IttiBitz with Disney/Marvel partnerships). Beyond consumer products, Kemps operates The Giving Cow Project—a social impact initiative producing shelf-stable milk for food banks—and the Kemps Giving Cow Foundation (501c3 non-profit). The company also sells branded merchandise. All products are sourced from family farms in the upper Midwest with a stated commitment to no artificial growth hormones.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Milk & Cream Fresh fluid milk (whole, 2%, 1%, fat-free), cream, lactose-free varieties, and flavored milks such as chocolate, in sizes ranging from pints to gallons. Sourced from local family farms.
• Sour Cream & Dips Sour cream in 8oz, 14oz pouch, 16oz, 24oz, and light varieties, alongside French Onion and Ranch Dill dips.
• Cottage Cheese Low-fat cottage cheese available in 4%, 2%, 1%, Fat Free levels in multi-pack, 22oz, 16oz, 3lb, and single-serve cups (Plain, Chive, Pineapple, Mixed Berry, Peach, Strawberry); single-serve cups deliver 19g of protein.
• Yogurt & Beverages Nonfat yogurt in 5lb containers (Blueberry, Strawberry, Vanilla) and orange juice in gallon, half gallon, and pint sizes.
• Ice Cream Full line of ice cream including Core flavors (Bear Creek Caramel, Moose Tracks, Butter Pecan, Chocolate, Vanilla, etc.), the Crafted Collection premium range (Brownie Cookie Dough Delight, Salted Caramel Brownie, Raspberry Cheesecake), seasonal varieties, 128oz pails, and pints. Features licensed Moose Tracks and Caribou Coffee branded flavors.
• Frozen Yogurt Frozen yogurt made with real milk, cocoa and fruit in regular and fat-free varieties, with flavors such as Black Jack Cherry, Moose Tracks, Chocolate, Mint Chocolate Chip, and Vanilla Bean.
• Sherbet Fat-free sherbet made with real fruit, available in pint and 54oz sizes with flavors including Mango, Orange, Orange Cream, Pineapple, Rainbow, Raspberry, Raspberry Lemonade, Cherry Limeade, Lime, Strawberry Lemonade, and Wild Strawberry.
• Novelties Frozen novelty treats including Kempswich ice cream sandwiches, traditional ice cream sandwiches, IttiBitz kids treats with Disney and Marvel licensing (manufactured in an allergen-controlled room free of tree nuts and peanuts), cones (Vanilla Caramel Sundae, Vanilla Fudge Sundae), bars (Fudge Bars, Orange Cream Sherbet Bars, Dipped Vanilla Bars), and pops (All American Pops, Float Bars, Pop Jr.'s, Tropical Pops).
• Protein+ Ultra-Filtered Milk Ultra-filtered lactose-free milk line offering 50% more protein (13g per serving) and 50% less sugar than regular milk. Available in Whole, 2% Reduced Fat, and Chocolate flavors in 48oz bottles, made with real dairy milk from family farms.
• The Giving Cow Project Shelf-stable 2% milk product in 8oz airtight cartons designed for food banks and families in need, addressing food access gaps for children during weekends, summers, and extended breaks.
• Kemps Merch Branded merchandise including adult clothing (21 items), kids clothing (6 items), and accessories (21 items), with $1 per purchase benefiting the Kemps Foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 million+ Giving Cow milk cartons donated to families in need since 2019
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Cass-Clay (North Dakota)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012In 2012, Kemps purchased Cass-Clay, the leading dairy in North Dakota, expanding production capacity and regional presence.
• Grosenick Family Farm (Watertown, WI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the farm families supplying milk to Kemps. Farm families are the foundation of Kemps' farmer-owned cooperative model.
• Schwalbe Family Farm (Avon, MN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the farm families supplying milk to Kemps. Farm families are the foundation of Kemps' farmer-owned cooperative model.
• Guenther Family Farm (Oconomowoc, WI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the farm families supplying milk to Kemps. Farm families are the foundation of Kemps' farmer-owned cooperative model.
• Alfalawn Farm (Menomonie, WI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the farm families supplying milk to Kemps. Farm families are the foundation of Kemps' farmer-owned cooperative model.
• Krause Family Farm (Buffalo, MN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the farm families supplying milk to Kemps. Farm families are the foundation of Kemps' farmer-owned cooperative model.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wells Enterprises (Blue Bunny): U.S. ice cream and frozen novelties manufacturer headquartered in Iowa, family-owned, producing branded and licensed novelty products. Comparable to Kemps on ice cream manufacturing scale, novelty licensing strategy, and upper-Midwest presence.
• Oberweis Dairy: Family-owned Illinois-based dairy processing fluid milk, ice cream, and cultured products with home delivery and retail distribution. Comparable to Kemps on Midwest regional dairy processing and heritage-brand positioning.
• HP Hood LLC: Northeast U.S. dairy processor producing fluid milk, ice cream, creamers, and cultured products under brands including Hood and Friendly's. Comparable to Kemps in product breadth, branded dairy focus, and contract-manufactured ice cream.
• Hiland Dairy: Regional dairy processor and distributor offering fluid milk, ice cream, cottage cheese, and cultured products across the central U.S. Overlaps with Kemps on product categories and regional foodservice/retail channels.
• Turkey Hill Dairy: Regional Pennsylvania-based dairy producing ice cream, fluid milk, and frozen desserts with strong brand recognition in the Northeast. Comparable to Kemps as a heritage regional dairy/ice cream brand with diversified dairy portfolio.
• Prairie Farms Dairy: Midwest-based dairy cooperative producing fluid milk, ice cream, cultured products, and frozen novelties across multiple states. Directly comparable to Kemps in product mix, cooperative ownership structure, and upper-Midwest regional distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Dean Foods / Borden Dairy: Large national dairy processors with broad fluid milk, ice cream, and cultured product portfolios across multiple regional brands. Comparable to Kemps on product categories but operates at much broader national scale.
• Nestlé USA (Dreyer's / Häagen-Dazs): National and global ice cream and frozen dessert manufacturer with Dreyer's and Häagen-Dazs brands. Comparable to Kemps on ice cream and novelty categories but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.

Others

• Schreiber Foods: Major dairy-based ingredient and private-label cultured product manufacturer supplying retail and foodservice. Comparable as a wholesale and private-label dairy producer in the upper Midwest, providing competitive context on private-label share gains relevant to Kemps.

Emerging players

• Chobani LLC: U.S. yogurt and dairy-based beverage company with growing portfolio in fluid milk, creamers, and probiotic dairy. Comparable to Kemps on cultured dairy categories (yogurt, cottage cheese-adjacent) and direct competition in lactose-free/protein-enriched milk.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kempscows
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kemps-llc
• Instagraminstagram.com/kemps
• Facebookfacebook.com/kempscows

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Kemps LLC