Anderson Erickson Dairy
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Dairy products |
| Founded | June 1930 |
| Founder | Iver Erickson, Bill Anderson |
| Headquarters | Des Moines , United States |
Area served | Iowa, United States |
Key people | Descendants of the Erickson family (management as of 2021) |
| Products | Milk and dairy products |
The Anderson Erickson Dairy (AE) holds the distinction of being Iowa's largest dairy operated independently. Its main office is located in Des Moines, and the company was established in June 1930 amid the Great Depression by founders Iver Erickson and Bill Anderson. After eight years of partnership, Anderson divested his share and moved to Minnesota, leaving Erickson as the sole proprietor. By 2004, AE was ranked as the 73rd largest dairy in the United States based on sales figures. As of 2021, the business continues to be managed by descendants of the Erickson family.
At its inception, AE provided early morning milk deliveries directly to homes using glass bottles. Due to the scarcity of refrigerators at that time, deliveries were made every day of the week for approximately twenty years. Milkmen collected used bottles for cleaning and reuse. Over time, AE broadened its product offerings and reached a peak in the early 1950s with nearly 150 delivery routes throughout Iowa. Home delivery services ended by 2001 after dwindling to just two routes serving around 350 customers.
In September 1984, AE became a pioneer by printing images of missing children on their milk cartons, inspired by the disappearances of Iowa paperboys Johnny Gosch and Eugene Martin. This practice was subsequently adopted across the nation.
During 2020, AE obtained a multimillion-dollar loan through the economic relief provisions of the CARES Act.
Cow sculptures
Positioned outside AE’s headquarters at East University Avenue and Hubbell Avenue are two prominent Guernsey cow sculptures: Annie, a towering figure standing 14 feet tall and weighing 2,500 pounds constructed from steel and fiberglass, alongside her calf Eric, which weighs 200 pounds. These sculptures have become well-known landmarks—Annie since the 1960s and Eric since the 1970s—representing AE’s enduring presence in east Des Moines.