Although Dairy Foods’ 125-year is clearly a milestone, many industry suppliers have unique histories of their own. Here, some dairy industry suppliers present a photo from their history, as well as a caption. We hope you enjoy this retrospective, which are presented in alphabetical order by company name.

Image courtesy of Delkor

Delkor

This was the first packaging machine ever built by the founder of Delkor, Jim Duddleston. It was one of the first gable-top milk cartoning machines. Duddleson later sold this product line to Hercules and it became widely used “worldwide” in the late 1960s and into the 1980s for gable- top cartoning machines under the Hascon label. This photo is circa 1960s.

Image courtesy of DFA

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA)

Here’s a blast from the past: On Sept. 9, 1997, the dairy farmer chairmen of the nation’s four leading milk marketing cooperatives came together to discuss how they could work together for a better future for their dairy farmers, and went on to form Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) in 1998. From left to right: Herman Brubaker, chairman of Milk Marketing, Inc. (MMI); Tom Camerlo, chairman of Western Dairymen Cooperative, Inc. (WDCI); Carl Baumann, chairman of Mid-America Dairymen, Inc. (Mid-Am); and Charles Beckendorf, chairman of Associated Milk Producers, Inc. (AMPI) Southern Region.

Image courtesy of Extrutech

Extrutech

Founded in 1992, Extrutech is still located in the current manufacturing location it built in 2001 and expanded in 2006 to its current size. The photo depicts wall and ceiling grid panels that have been used for decades in food dairy processing plants for food safety purposes, and used in food dairy plants, processing items such as milk, cheese, ice cream and beverages.  

Image courtesy of Fortress Technology

Fortress Technology

Fortress Technology’s Phantom Metal Detector endures extreme testing under a bulldozer, emerging with just a few scuffs and perfect operation.

Image courtesy of GNT

GNT

Natural plant-based EXBERRY color supplier GNT opens its state-of-the art warehouse, production and customer experience facility in North Carolina in 2021.

Image courtesy of IFPC

IFPC

The IFPC brand was established in 1995 as an evolution of International Distributing Corporation — Food Division. Hence, the company is celebrating its 50th anniversary of its original founding in 1974. IFPC has been serving the dairy industry since the beginning through distributed ingredients. The company evolved to supporting the dairy industry with custom ingredient systems through the purchase of Dairy House. The photo, taken in the early 2000s, is of the IFPC Dairy House production line and one of its long-time employees, Devine Allen.

Image courtesy of Kusel

Kusel Co.

This photo of Kusel Co. is circa 1970. This location still serves as the company’s corporate headquarters and production facility, located in Watertown, Wis. Its cheesemaking equipment has been the foundation since its humble beginnings in 1849.

Image courtesy of Multi-Vac

Multi-Vac

Assembly of thermoforming tooling designed for cheese applications and manufactured in Kansas City, Mo., circa 1994.

Image courtesy of Nelson-Jameson

Nelson-Jameson

Nelson-Jameson began as a dairy equipment and supply firm in a vacant cheese factory in Toluca, Ill., in 1947. Nelson-Jameson has delivered for the dairy industry for 77 years. This photo is from 1966.

Image courtesy of Nercon

NERCON

Controls became an important part of NERCON’s ability to deliver reliable and efficient conveyor systems to the dairy industry. The company believes this photo was taken in the late 1970s, or early 1980s, about the time NERCON began serving the dairy industry.

Image courtesy of Pecan Deluxe

Pecan Deluxe

Pecan Deluxe Candy Co. has supplied inclusions for ice cream and dairy since transitioning from retail ice cream in 1950. The picture here is from its move to new facility in 1994, which has seen several expansions since, but its Dallas, Texas, location still serves at its headquarters.

Image courtesy of Relco

Relco

Since 1982, RELCO, a Kovalus Co., has “transformed the dairy industry one innovation at a time.” This photo of a permeate dryer install customer site in Wisconsin is circa 2003.

Image courtesy of Rocket Products

Rocket Products

Pictured circa 1965 is Charles Lazier, fueling up his plane to call on a dairy to talk lemonade. Note the Dair’E lemonade carton painted on the tail. Lazier founded the company around 1954, and owned the business until his passing in July 2022. It’s now owned by a Lazier Family Trust. Lazier used to fly his on plane to see customers. 

Image courtesy of Urschel

Urschel

Urschel has successfully partnered with food processors since 1910. The pictured ad is circa 1959.

Image courtesy of Xylem

Xylem

In 1989, the City of Tulare, Calif., installed an anaerobic digester with a four-acre gastight cover to convert waste to energy. The solutions were provided by companies since acquired by Xylem and are still produced.