Cedar Crest Specialties, Inc. is owned by the Kohlwey family, starting the ice cream business in 1976 after acquiring the Oak Brand Ice Cream Company distribution depot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With only two trucks to start, the brothers began delivering the creamiest ice cream from the plant in Freeport, Illinois to the depot in Milwaukee — and to the surrounding area — on a weekly basis. 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 foodservice and retail stores around the area, from the Fox Valley to the Illinois state line. As word spread about our delicious ice cream, the company continued to grow, and the home office relocated to Cedarburg in 1980.

Everyone wants more Cedar Crest Ice Cream
In the early 1980′s, the original Elephant Tracks® was created and became a regional phenomenon. Plenty of imitators popped up, but we were the first to mix chunks of peanut butter cups and a chocolate swirl in chocolate ice cream. Cedar Crest moved production from Oshkosh to Manitowoc and new products were added. In 1989 and 1990, The Dells Ice Cream Company (Wisconsin Dells) and the Gustafson Ice Cream Company (Rice Lake) were purchased, expanding our distribution to much of the state of Wisconsin. In1991, the world famous Union Dairy in Freeport, Illinois, route was added. By1998, the Dairyland Distributing ice cream route in Delavan, Wisconsin was added, increasing the volume in the Manitowoc plant and established more regional footprint in the Midwest.In the new millennium, Cedar Crest continued to diversify its product line by incorporating a variety of products other than ice cream.

We continue to lead the way.
Cedar Crest continues to develop new products and flavors year in and year out. Know that quality ice cream is at the very heart of our company. We trust that you’ll look for our products at your favorite grocery, convenience store and ice cream parlors across the Midwest. Cedar Crest Ice Cream . . . a family tradition. Enjoy a scoop today!