Dan & Debbies Creamery

What Dan & Debbies Creamery does

Dan and Debbie's Creamery is a family-owned farm-to-table dairy operation based in Ely, Iowa, vertically integrated from a 150-cow Holstein dairy herd through on-site processing to direct consumer and wholesale channels. The company produces a portfolio of small-batch dairy products including non-homogenized cream top milk, cheese curds in five flavors, farmhouse and jalapeño aged cheddar (minimum 30-day aging), slow-churned salted butter, 12 signature plus rotating limited-edition handcrafted ice cream flavors, and handmade milk soap. The processing facility, located in a renovated former lumber building less than five minutes from the farm, features a viewing room where customers can observe production, and uses robotic milking technology to support 24/7 herd operations.

The company generates revenue through four streams: (1) direct retail at the creamery store in Ely and online ordering via the Barn2Door platform; (2) weekly home delivery subscriptions within a 40-mile radius of Ely, with free delivery on orders over $50; (3) wholesale distribution to grocery chains (notably multiple Hy-Vee locations across Cedar Rapids, Coralville, Iowa City, and Marion), independent grocers, foodservice accounts including Donutland, Dash Coffee Roasters, LP Street Food, Lu's Deli, and Hyatt Regency, and farmers markets; and (4) paid group tours of the production facility at $4.50 per person. Marketing emphasizes farm transparency and local sourcing through a 320+-page blog, local media coverage, social media, paid tours, and a community partnership network with local producers.

Customer segments include local Iowa families seeking farm-fresh dairy, regional grocery retailers and restaurants seeking locally-sourced differentiation, and tourists and agritourism visitors. The business is privately held by the Takes family with no external investors, operates with a small named team of approximately nine people spanning production, distribution, retail, and operations roles, and has been recognized with the 2017 Renew Rural Iowa Award. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Dan & Debbies Creamery

Legal name

Dan and Debbie's Creamery

Website

https://dananddebbies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Dan and Debbie's Creamery is a family-owned farm-to-table dairy operation in Ely, Iowa, milking 150 Holstein cows and producing non-homogenized cream top milk, cheese curds, aged cheddar, butter, ice cream, and soap for retail, wholesale, and home delivery customers across the Eastern Iowa corridor.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Dairy Products

NAICS

Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Creamery Butter Manufacturing (311512), Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Cream & Refrigerated Desserts (CRADACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Salted & Unsalted Butter Manufacturing (Retail/Consumer Packs) (AFAHACAC), Ice Cream & Frozen Dairy Wholesale (AFAIAEAF), Butter & Cultured Dairy (Yogurt, Sour Cream, Kefir) Wholesale (AFAIAEAB)

Keywords

• Artisan dairy products
• Farm-fresh milk
• Cheddar cheese curds
• Handcrafted ice cream
• Creamery tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Ely

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Product Sales: Direct sales of dairy products (cream top milk, cheese curds, aged cheddar, butter, ice cream) at creamery store and through online ordering with pickup or delivery.
2. Home Delivery Subscription: Weekly home delivery service via Barn2Door platform. Customers order online and receive deliveries on scheduled days. Milk subscriptions and egg subscriptions available as standing orders.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Bulk sales to retailers including Hy-Vee stores, local grocery stores, restaurants, and specialty retailers throughout Eastern Iowa.
4. Creamery Tours: Paid group tours of production facility at $4.50 per person with 12-person minimum. Revenue-generating educational experience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dan & Debbie's Creamery is a farm-to-table dairy operation that produces and sells non-homogenized cream top milk, five flavors of cheddar cheese curds, slow-churned salted butter, 30-day aged farmhouse and jalapeño cheddars, small-batch handcrafted ice cream in 12 signature plus rotating limited-edition flavors, and handmade milk soap. Products are sold through the company's own retail store in Ely, Iowa, a weekly home delivery subscription service within a 40-mile radius, and wholesale distribution across the Eastern Iowa corridor.

Product overview

Dan & Debbie's Creamery operates as a farm-to-table dairy operation offering a portfolio of small-batch, handcrafted dairy products. The core product lineup centers on five main categories: Cheddar Cheese Curds (available in five flavors including White Cheddar, Onion and Chive, Dill, Jalapeño Ranch, and Chipotle), Salted Butter (slow-churned), Hand Crafted Ice Cream (12 signature flavors plus rotating limited editions), Aged Cheddars (Farmhouse and Jalapeño varieties aged minimum 30 days), Cream Top Milk (non-homogenized), and Handmade Milk Soap (five scents). Additional offerings include Home + Kitchen items and Apparel. The creamery also provides supplementary services including a weekly Home Delivery Service within a 40-mile radius of Ely, Iowa, and private group Creamery Tours of the production facility. Wholesale offerings are available for retailers and businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cheddar Cheese Curds Fresh squeaky cheese curds made in five savory flavors: White Cheddar, Onion and Chive, Dill, Jalapeño Ranch, and Chipotle. Sold to retail customers and wholesale buyers across Eastern Iowa.
• Salted Butter Slow-churned real butter made with cream and salt in small batches; sold to retail customers and wholesale accounts.
• Hand Crafted Ice Cream Small-batch handcrafted ice cream available in 12 signature flavors plus rotating limited-edition flavors that change monthly. Made by hand in the creamery's make room.
• Aged Cheddars Farmhouse Cheddar and Jalapeño Cheddar cheeses aged for a minimum of 30 days to achieve peak sharpness; suitable for charcuterie boards.
• Cream Top Milk Non-homogenized whole milk in which cream naturally rises to the top; the most natural form of milk, kept close to its natural state without homogenization.
• Handmade Milk Soap Handmade soap made with milk, available in five year-round scents: Unscented, Citrus + Poppyseed, Eucalyptus + Clove, Lemongrass, and Milk + Honey.
• Apparel Branded merchandise including clothing and gear featuring Dan & Debbie's Creamery branding.
• Home + Kitchen Everyday home goods and kitchen accessories that bring a touch of the farm to customers' homes.
• Home Delivery Service Weekly subscription home delivery service bringing farm-fresh dairy and other local Iowa products directly to customers' doorsteps within approximately 40 miles of Ely, Iowa. Free delivery on orders over $50; $5 delivery fee on smaller orders.
• Creamery Tours Private group tours of the production facility, including the viewing room overlooking the production room; $4.50 per person with a 12-person minimum, lasting 45-60 minutes. Available for schools, organizations, and private groups.
• Wholesale Dairy Supply Bulk dairy supply for retailers and foodservice operators across the Eastern Iowa corridor, including cream top milk, whipping cream, squeaky cheese curds, aged cheddar cheeses, slow-churned butter, and handcrafted ice cream.

Quantifiable outcome

• We milk 150 Holstein cows each day on our family farm in Ely, Iowa
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DonutlandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDonutland has been a wholesale customer of Dan & Debbie's Creamery for several years. They serve Dan & Debbie's chocolate milk and dairy products in their bakery/donut shop, with customers expressing strong loyalty to the products.
• Dash Coffee RoasterscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal coffee shop that has been using Dan & Debbie's Creamery milk since opening 5 years ago. Serves their thick and creamy milk in espresso beverages. Staff provides weekly order support and friendly deliveries.
• Hy-VeecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional grocery chain with multiple locations carrying Dan & Debbie's products including cream top milk, squeaky cheese curds, aged cheddar cheese, and handcrafted ice cream. Major retail partner for Eastern Iowa distribution.
• In't Veld's Meat MarketminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured as partner highlight on Dan & Debbie's blog. Local meat market supporting other local producers.
• HACAP (Human Agenda, Inc.)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFarm-to-table partnership bringing local dairy to community support programs.
• Millstream Brewing Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner highlight featured on Dan & Debbie's blog. Local Iowa craft brewery partnership for community/local goods promotion.
• CrazyGood BBQminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal restaurant partner highlighted on blog. Partnership supporting local food ecosystem.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oberweis Dairy: Family-owned regional dairy operating its own dairy farm, processing plant, home delivery route network, and retail stores across the Midwest. Closely comparable to Dan & Debbie's on the integrated farm-to-doorstep model, regional D2C delivery, and branded ice cream/milk product mix.
• Anderson Erickson Dairy: Iowa-based regional dairy processor and home-delivery operator with branded milk, ice cream, and cultured products. Comparable on geography (Iowa/Midwest), home-delivery model, and multi-product dairy portfolio.
• Vermont Creamery: Artisanal creamery producing small-batch butter, cheese, and cultured dairy with a strong farm-story brand. Comparable on small-batch premium positioning, cheese/butter focus, and emphasis on transparency and sourcing story.
• Kalona SuperNatural: Iowa-based brand sourcing from small family farms to deliver minimally processed dairy products (non-homogenized milk, cream, butter, yogurt). Highly comparable to Dan & Debbie's on geography, sourcing model, and cream-top milk positioning.
• Royal Crest Dairy: Family-owned regional dairy with home-delivery service and branded milk, cream, and ice cream. Closely comparable on family-owned farm-to-doorstep model and home delivery as a core channel.

Broad incumbents

• Hiland Dairy: Large regional dairy processor and home-delivery operator across the Midwest. Comparable product categories (milk, ice cream, butter) and channel mix, but at materially larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• Stonyfield Farm: National organic yogurt and dairy brand built on a farm-to-table, sustainability-led story. Comparable on transparent sourcing narrative and premium positioning, though at vastly greater scale and category breadth.
• Cabot Creamery: Farmer-owned cooperative producing branded butter, cheese, and dairy with a strong farm-family story. Comparable on farmer-owned sourcing narrative and premium butter/cheese focus, though at significantly larger scale.
• Organic Valley: Farmer-owned organic dairy cooperative offering milk, butter, cheese, cream, and ice cream across national distribution. Comparable on small-farm sourcing model and full dairy product portfolio, but as a cooperative at much greater scale.

Emerging players

• Brave New Cafe / Purple Cow Creamery (concept analog): Small-batch scoop shop / neighborhood creameries in the Midwest that combine on-site retail with branded butter/cheese/ice cream production. Included as an analog of the small-batch scoop-and-shop format Dan & Debbie's operates, though specific company name may not be a verified national brand; included illustratively.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Dan & Debbies Creamery