What First District Association does

First District Association (FDA) is a member-owned dairy cooperative founded in 1921 and headquartered in Litchfield, Minnesota, processing approximately 7.5 million pounds of milk per day from nearly 580 family farms across Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin. The cooperative operates a single integrated manufacturing platform producing three interconnected product streams: cheese (270 million pounds annually, in 40 lb blocks and 500 lb barrels across Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Swiss, and Gouda varieties), whey protein concentrate (48 million pounds annually, in protein levels from 27% to 80%, plus Whey Protein Isolate 90%), and lactose (55 million pounds annually, in 40/100/200 mesh grades). Liquid co-products (whey cream, sweet cream, condensed whey, UF skim milk) are also sold via bulk tanker truck. Annual production data is supported by SQF Food Safety Code for Manufacturing certification and 100% FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) program participation, with full farm-to-product traceability.

FDA generates revenue through direct B2B sales of dairy ingredients to food manufacturers and ingredient companies, both domestically across the U.S. and via export to international markets including China, Japan, and Indonesia where products are further processed into consumer dairy items (infant formula, sports nutrition, bakery, confections, processed cheese, sauces, and snack foods). The go-to-market is sales-led via a direct field sales team; pricing is contract-negotiated and not publicly disclosed. In February 2021, FDA and Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) formed a jointly owned Common Marketing Agency to combine marketing efforts and broaden market reach. The cooperative is governed by a member-owner board of directors and currently employs approximately 230 people. The company maintains a sub-brand, Fieldgate Cheese, and operates a Young Cooperator program for next-generation farmer engagement. As of August 4, 2025, Glenn Kaping serves as President and CEO following the July 10, 2025 resignation of Bob Huffman.

Name

First District Association

Legal name

First District Association

Website

https://firstdistrict.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

First District Association is a member-owned dairy cooperative founded in 1921 that processes 7.5 million pounds of milk daily from 580 family farms into cheese, whey protein concentrate, and lactose for B2B food manufacturers domestically and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dairy Ingredients Manufacturing

NAICS

Dairy Product (except Frozen) Manufacturing (31151), Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Dry, Condensed, and Evaporated Dairy Product Manufacturing (311514)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Infant Formula & Specialized Dairy Nutrition Manufacturing (AFAKAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

High-Protein & Energy-Dense Pediatric Dairy Nutrition Manufacturing (AFAHAHAG)

Keywords

• Dairy processing
• Cheese manufacturing
• Whey protein concentrate
• Dairy ingredient supply
• Milk processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Litchfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Dairy Ingredient Sales: FDA manufactures and sells dairy ingredients including cheese, whey protein concentrate, and lactose to food manufacturers and ingredient companies. Products are sold to customers who further process them into consumer products. FDA also delivers raw milk to bottling facilities. Revenue is generated through product sales to B2B customers domestically and internationally.
2. Liquid Dairy Product Sales: Occasional availability of liquid products including whey cream, sweet cream, UF skim milk, condensed skim milk, condensed WPC, condensed whey permeate, and delactosed permeate. All shipped via bulk tanker trucks.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

First District Association is a member-owned dairy cooperative that processes approximately 7.5 million pounds of milk per day from nearly 580 family farms into cheese (40 lb blocks and 500 lb barrels), whey protein concentrate (27%, 35%, 53%, 80%) and whey protein isolate (90%), lactose in multiple mesh sizes, and liquid dairy co-products. These dairy ingredients are sold wholesale to food manufacturers, ingredient companies, and bottling facilities in the United States and internationally for further processing into consumer dairy products including infant formula, sports nutrition, baked goods, confections, snack foods, and prepared cheeses.

Product overview

First District Association is a dairy cooperative that processes 7.5 million pounds of milk daily from approximately 580 family farms. The company operates a single unified manufacturing platform producing three interconnected product lines: Cheese (40 lb blocks and 500 lb barrels including White Cheddar, Colored Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Swiss, and Gouda Curd), Powder Products (Whey Protein Concentrate in 27-80% protein levels, Whey Protein Isolate 90%, and Lactose in various mesh sizes), and Liquid Products (Whey Cream, Sweet Cream, UF Skim Milk, and various condensed whey products). Annual production includes 270 million pounds of cheese, 48 million pounds of whey protein concentrate, and 55 million pounds of lactose.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fieldgate Cheese: A sub-brand/product line operated by First District Association.

Products and services

• Cheese Products Cheese manufactured from fresh, locally produced milk, offered in 40 lb blocks (White Cheddar, Colored Cheddar, Monterey Jack) and 500 lb barrels (Uncured Swiss for Manufacturing, Gouda Curd). Made to customer specification for processed cheese slices, cheese powders, sauces, shreds, and spreadable cheeses. Used by food manufacturers in the U.S. and international markets.
• Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) Whey protein concentrates derived from uncolored cheese manufacturing, offered in 27%, 35%, 53%, and 80% protein levels. Available in standard and agglomerated (80%) forms in 20 kg bags and 800-1,134 kg totes. Used by food manufacturers in infant nutrition, bakery products, confections, frozen desserts, process cheese, sports nutrition, and other dairy foods.
• Whey Protein Isolate 90% Whey protein isolate derived from the uncolored cheese manufacturing process, offered in standard and agglomerated forms. Applications include sports nutrition, ready-to-drink mixes, protein drinks, and protein bars.
• Lactose Lactose derived from high quality whey permeate, available in 40 mesh, 100 mesh, and 200 mesh particle sizes in 25 kg bags. Used by food manufacturers in infant formula, bakery products, snack foods, and confectionery. Annual production of 55 million pounds.
• Liquid Dairy Products Liquid dairy co-products including Whey Cream, Sweet Cream, UF Skim Milk, Condensed Skim Milk, Condensed WPC, Condensed Whey Permeate, and Delactosed Permeate. All shipped via bulk tanker trucks on an as-available basis to food manufacturers and dairy processors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7.5 million pounds of milk processed per day
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2021Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) and First District Association announced the formation of a jointly owned Common Marketing Agency. This strategic partnership allows both cooperatives to combine their marketing efforts and reach broader markets for dairy ingredients.
• Innovation Center for U.S. DairycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFDA is a proud member of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy's U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment program, which demonstrates U.S. dairy's collective commitment to responsibly produced dairy foods that nourish people, strengthen communities and foster a sustainable future. The goal is to become carbon neutral by 2050.
• National Dairy FARM Program (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFDA participates in the National Dairy FARM Program encompassing Animal Care, Antibiotic Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship and Workforce Development programs. FDA is 100% FARM Evaluated. FDA's FARM Program Manager Nicole Frank received the 2024 Evaluator of the Year FARM Excellence Award.
• CME Group (Chicago Mercantile Exchange)minorOthersFDA provides CME Group Class III Milk Quotes market information link to members on its website, enabling farmer members to track dairy commodity prices.
• National Milk Producers FederationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFDA participates in NMPF programs including the Young Cooperators Leadership and Development Program, Annual Meeting, and policy advocacy. FDA board members and young cooperators attend NMPF events and represent FDA at national level.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI): Dairy cooperative that is FDA's direct strategic partner and industry counterpart through the jointly owned Common Marketing Agency announced in February 2021. Both organizations process member milk into cheese and dairy ingredients, making AMPI the closest comparable in cooperative structure, scale, and product mix.
• Leprino Foods: The world's largest mozzarella and dairy ingredient manufacturer and the dominant U.S. whey protein and lactose supplier. Leprino is the global benchmark B2B dairy ingredient competitor that FDA competes against in cheese, WPC, and lactose tenders to food manufacturers and exporters.
• Hilmar Cheese: Privately held manufacturer of cheddar cheese and whey protein products serving global food ingredient customers. Highly comparable in product mix (cheddar + WPC/WPI), B2B ingredient go-to-market, and dairy-processing scale, making it one of the closest direct competitors to FDA's cheese and whey ingredient business.
• Glanbia Nutritionals: Global whey protein, lactose, and dairy ingredient supplier with strong presence in sports nutrition and infant formula. Glanbia directly competes with FDA in the whey protein concentrate and lactose ingredient markets that anchor FDA's value-added product portfolio.
• Idaho Milk Products: Specialty dairy ingredient manufacturer producing milk protein concentrate, whey protein, and milk permeate for global food and nutrition customers. Patti Schaefer, FDA's VP of Milk Marketing, previously spent four years as Market Development Manager at Idaho Milk Products, illustrating how directly comparable the two are in business model and customer base.
• Land O'Lakes: Member-owned dairy and agricultural cooperative with a major dairy foods business that produces cheese and dairy ingredients. Land O'Lakes shares FDA's cooperative governance, B2B ingredient sales model, and U.S. Midwest milk supply footprint.
• Dairy Farmers of America (DFA): The largest U.S. dairy cooperative, operating cheese and dairy ingredient manufacturing as well as fluid milk. DFA mirrors FDA's cooperative structure, member-farm supply model, and integrated cheese/whey ingredient business, making it a primary peer in governance and operating model.
• Arla Foods Ingredients: Specialty whey protein and lactose manufacturer serving infant nutrition, sports nutrition, and clinical nutrition customers globally. Directly comparable to FDA's whey and lactose ingredient business, particularly the WPC 80% and WPI 90% product lines.

Broad incumbents

• Saputo: One of the largest dairy processors in the world, with broad portfolios across cheese, dairy ingredients, and fluid milk across multiple geographies. Saputo is a broader incumbent whose ingredient and cheese lines overlap with FDA's product mix but at much larger and more diversified scale.
• Lactalis: Global dairy giant with cheese, whey, and dairy ingredient operations across Europe, the Americas, and beyond. Lactalis is a broad incumbent in B2B dairy ingredients, competing with FDA in international tenders though its portfolio extends well beyond dairy ingredients into consumer dairy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/firstdistrictassociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-district-association
• Xx.com/First_Dist

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 First District Association