Cedar Crest Specialties, Inc. is owned by brothers Ken, Robert, Bill and Tim Kohlwey. They started the ice cream business in 1976 after acquiring the Oak Brand Ice Cream Company distribution depot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The business started with two trucks and ice cream purchased from the Oak Brand Ice Cream plant in Freeport, Illinois. Ice Cream was delivered from the plant to the depot on a weekly basis and delivered in and around Milwaukee.

Several months later, Cedar Crest purchased a small family run ice cream company called Smith Ice Cream located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. They moved their operation to Oshkosh and started manufacturing ice cream, sherbet, ice cream sandwiches and single serve cups to food service and to retail customers. The company began to grow and the home office relocated to Cedarburg, Wisconsin in 1980.

How the family business grew . . .
Early 1980's—The original Elephant Tracks^® was created—chunks of peanut butter cups and a chocolate swirl in chocolate ice cream. Cedar Crest purchased an ice cream plant in Manitowoc on 2000 S. 10th Street, the Oshkosh plant closed. New products were added and the family business grew again. . .
1989—The Dells Ice Cream Company in Wisconsin Dells was purchased and routes were expanded north of Madison
1990—The Gustafson Ice Cream Company of Rice Lake, Wisconsin was purchased and new routes, sales people and offices were added, business began to grow more in the northwestern area of Wisconsin
1991—Union Dairy in Freeport, Illinois ice cream route was added
1998—Dairyland Distributing ice cream route, Delavan, Wisconsin was purchased. The new route acquisitions increased the volume in the Manitowoc plant and established a large presence in the southwestern part of Wisconsin and the northwestern part of Illinois.

 
Cedar Crest has continued to diversify its product line by incorporating a variety of products other than ice cream. Some of them include: Tom & Jerry Mix, Child Nutrition Cups—Juice fortified sherbet, Smart Pops—Juice Fortified and vitamins A & C added cups, lowfat Choco Chiller Malt Cups, Strawberry Cheesecake Frozen Yogurt Sandwiches and Blue Moon Ice Cream Sandwiches are available to food service and retail customers.

Innovative ideas like the addition of Feature Flavors provided customers with a taste of 2 new ice cream flavors each month. New Ice Cream Pints were added early 2008.

Cedar Crest Ice Cream. . . can be found in a variety of grocery stores, many convenience stores and ice cream parlors throughout Wisconsin, northern Illinois, eastern Minnesota, western Michigan and the northeastern corner of Iowa.

Cedar Crest Ice Cream . . . a family tradition. Enjoy a scoop today.