Hartzler Family Dairy

What Hartzler Family Dairy does

Hartzler Family Dairy is a third-generation, family-owned dairy processor headquartered in Wooster, Ohio. The dairy company was established in 1990 by Harold and Patricia Hartzler on the foundation of a family farm operating in Wayne County since the early 1950s; the retail storefront at the processing plant opened on April 15, 1996. The business is currently owned by Joe Hartzler and his son Jace Hartzler, with no external investors or parent company. Operations are vertically integrated from cow to finished product, centered on a single processing plant in Wooster that also houses the on-site dairy shop and ice cream shop.

The company's core processing technology is Low-Temperature Vat Pasteurization at 145°F for 30 minutes, paired with non-homogenization that preserves the milk's natural cream layer and digestive enzymes. Products are packaged in reusable, non-porous glass bottles with a $2 refundable deposit, supporting a closed-loop return-and-sanitize system. The portfolio spans whole, 2%, and skim milk; chocolate milk; salted and unsalted butter; artisan cheese (White Cheddar, Colby, Gouda); hand-scooped ice cream in over 50 flavors; single-serve Minis in five flavors; seasonal quarts (Eggnog, Strawberry, Black Raspberry); ice cream cakes; and specialty coffee/affogato via a partnership with Heartwood Roastery. All half-gallon products and cheeses carry NON-GMO Project verification, and the dairy is sourced from pasture-fed cows without artificial hormones.

Hartzler operates a dual-channel go-to-market: direct retail through its on-site dairy shop and ice cream parlor in Wooster (with indoor and outdoor seating and an e-commerce gift card channel via ToastTab), and wholesale distribution to grocery stores, coffee shops, restaurants, bakeries, and colleges across Ohio. Wholesale inquiries are managed by Tina and Beth Swiderman ([email protected]), and the company maintains a website-based store locator to drive consumer pull-through to retail partners. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales at retail and wholesale, with product pricing public (e.g., ice cream cakes $32.99–$49.99; $2 glass bottle deposit). Geographic reach is limited to a single state (Ohio), and the company is privately held with no disclosed financials, funding rounds, or M&A activity.

Name

Hartzler Family Dairy

Legal name

Hartzler Family Dairy, Inc.

Website

https://hartzlerdairy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hartzler Family Dairy is a third-generation, family-owned dairy processor in Wooster, Ohio, producing minimally processed milk, butter, cheese, and 50+ flavors of ice cream using low-temperature vat pasteurization and reusable glass bottles, sold wholesale across Ohio and direct at its on-site shop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dairy Products

NAICS

Fluid Milk Manufacturing (311511), Dairy Product (except Frozen) Manufacturing (31151), Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (31152), Creamery Butter Manufacturing (311512)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Fluid Milk & Cream Processing (AFAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dairy-Based Frozen Novelties Manufacturing (Bars, Sandwiches, Cones) (AFAHAEAG), Dairy Spreads, Dips & Cream Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAL), Dairy-Based Beverages Manufacturing (Flavored Milk, Lassi, Drinkable Yogurt) (AFAKAKAH)

Keywords

• Minimally processed dairy
• Vat pasteurized milk
• Non-homogenized milk
• Artisan ice cream
• Glass bottle milk

Headquarters

HQ city

Wooster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 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 - Retail: Direct sales of milk, chocolate milk, ice cream, butter, cheese, and seasonal products through their dairy shop and ice cream shop at the processing plant location
2. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale distribution of dairy products to grocery stores, coffee shops, restaurants, bakeries, and colleges across Ohio
3. Ice Cream Shop and Dairy Shop: Retail ice cream shop and dairy shop sales at their Wooster, Ohio location with indoor/outdoor seating and coffee service through Heartwood Roastery partnership

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hartzler Family Dairy is a family-owned dairy processor and retailer based in Wooster, Ohio. It produces and sells minimally processed milk (whole, 2%, skim, chocolate, seasonal quart flavors), butter (salted and unsalted), artisan cheese (White Cheddar, Colby, Gouda), single-serving flavored milk minis, and hand-scooped artisan ice cream in over 50 flavors. Products are sold through an on-site dairy shop and ice cream shop in Wooster and wholesale-distributed to grocery stores, coffee shops, restaurants, bakeries, and colleges across Ohio.

Product overview

Hartzler Family Dairy is a family-owned dairy company operating since 1996 in Wooster, Ohio, built on the philosophy of "As Nature Intended." The company offers minimally processed dairy products including various milks (Whole, 2%, Skim, Chocolate), Butter in Salted & Unsalted varieties, Artisan Cheese (White Cheddar, Colby, Gouda), Hand-scooped Ice Cream in over 50 flavors, Single-serving Milk Minis in 5 flavors, Seasonal Quarts (Eggnog, Strawberry, Black Raspberry), Ice Cream Cakes, and Specialty Coffee drinks. All products are produced using Low-Temperature Vat Pasteurization and non-homogenization methods to preserve natural enzymes and nutrients. Milk is packaged in returnable glass bottles with a $2 deposit, and half-gallon products and cheeses are NON-GMO Project verified.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Whole Milk

Named customers5 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

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Grocery Stores across OhiocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale distribution partnerships with grocery stores across Ohio. Stores carry Hartzler milk, cheese, butter, and ice cream products. Store locator available on website to help customers find nearby retailers.
• Coffee Shops across OhiocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale supply partnerships with coffee shops across Ohio. Coffee shops use Hartzler dairy products for specialty beverages.
• Restaurants across OhiominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale distribution to restaurants across Ohio for food service use of dairy products.
• Bakeries across OhiominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale supply partnerships with bakeries across Ohio for dairy ingredients in baked goods.
• Colleges across OhiominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCampus food service distribution to colleges across Ohio for on-campus dining dairy supply.
• Heartwood RoasterycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Heartwood Roastery to offer specialty coffee drinks that highlight the quality of Hartzler milk. Full espresso menu including seasonal beverages and affogato made with Hartzler ice cream. Sold at Hartzler's Ice Cream Shop location.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Trickling Springs Creamery: Pennsylvania-based craft dairy producing low-temperature pasteurized, non-homogenized milk and artisan ice cream sold through regional retail and food service. Closely comparable in production philosophy and product mix to Hartzler.
• Shenandoah Family Farms / Homestead Creamery: Virginia-based family dairy producing fluid milk, butter, ice cream, and cheese with on-site retail and farm-heritage branding. Comparable family-farm heritage, multi-product portfolio, and on-site retail store model.
• Alexandre Family Farm: California regenerative organic dairy producing fluid milk, cream, butter, and eggs with pasture-raised and grass-fed practices. Comparable premium positioning with farm-to-bottle traceability story.
• Snowville Creamery: Small-batch Ohio-based dairy using low-temperature vat pasteurization and non-homogenized milk in returnable glass bottles. Operates a near-identical production model to Hartzler with overlapping wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels in the Midwest.
• Maple Hill Creamery: New York-based 100% grass-fed, organic dairy producing fluid milk, butter, cheese, and yogurt with a clean-label positioning. Comparable premium, minimally-processed dairy offering targeting similar health-conscious consumers.
• Grassland Dairy: Wisconsin-based dairy processor specializing in butter manufacturing with regional and national distribution. Comparable in butter product category and dairy processing operations, though larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Tillamook: Oregon-based farmer-owned dairy cooperative nationally known for ice cream, cheese, and butter. Comparable in ice cream product line and farmer-owned heritage but at national scale with destination retail locations.
• Stonyfield Farm: National organic yogurt and dairy brand with broad retail distribution. Comparable clean-label, organic, and hormone-free positioning but at significantly larger scale across a wider product portfolio.
• Organic Valley: Large national cooperative of organic farmers producing fluid milk, butter, cheese, and other dairy under pasture-raised and organic certifications. Comparable production philosophy but operates at cooperative scale across the U.S.
• Cabot Creamery: Northeast dairy cooperative producing butter, cheese, and fluid milk with farmer-owned heritage and quality positioning. Comparable family-farmer narrative but operates across a much broader product and geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HartzlerFamilyDairy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-hartzler-family-dairy

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Hartzler Family Dairy