Crystal Creamery, Modesto, Calif., said its board of directors appointed Dennis Roberts, vice president of sales and marketing for the dairy company from 2014 through 2018, as the president and CEO.

“Dennis was the clear choice to lead our company into the future,” said Terry McDaniel, chairman of Crystal Creamery’s board of directors. “Not only does he have previous experience working for Crystal Creamery, but he is a respected food industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience. He brings a wealth of knowledge and array of experiences to drive continued growth for our company.”

Crystal Creamery said it is the largest privately owned dairy company in California. Roberts replaces Marty Devine, who had led the company since 2018. Devine will continue to consult with Roberts and the board of directors to ensure a smooth transition.

“I am thrilled to return to Crystal Creamery and take the reins of one of California’s most iconic brands. Our customers trust our brand as a provider of the highest quality dairy products in the communities we serve,” said Roberts. “Our mission will not change. Crystal Creamery will continue to nourish families with simple, delicious ingredients and the freshest dairy from family and local farms.”

Roberts takes over as the company rolls out its new and improved ice cream formulation. In addition to a fresh, updated packaging design, the new ice cream recipe uses simple ingredients such as cream, sugar and milk sourced from local and family farms, Crystal Creamery said, and does not contain any artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners. Ice cream lovers may enjoy 29 flavors of premium Crystal Creamery ice creams, including classics such as Vanilla and Rocky Road, along with popular newcomers such as Caramel Pretzel, Chocolate Avalanche and Moose Tracks.

“Our new ice cream recipe has been one of this summer’s blockbuster hits,” Roberts said. “Consumers love our delicious, creamy offerings and continue to reach for more. The team put a lot of effort into fine-tuning the new recipe, and the strong consumer demand indicates we have a winner!”

In addition to ice cream, Crystal Creamery said it offers a full line of dairy products, including milk, cottage cheese, sour cream, butter, yogurt and specialty items such as cream and eggnog