Oberweis Dairy
| File:Oberweis Dairy.png | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Dairy, Restaurant, home delivery |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Headquarters | 951 Ice Cream Dr., , United States |
Number of locations | 41 |
Area served | Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin |
Key people | Adam Kraber, President & CEO |
| Products | Dairy and fast food |
| Parent | Hoffmann Family of Companies |
| Website | www |
Oberweis Dairy, based in North Aurora, Illinois, operates a combination of dairy production and fast food dining establishments throughout the Midwest region. The company provides a home delivery service spanning Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, and Wisconsin, offering a range of dairy goods including milk, ice cream, cheese, yogurt, bacon, as well as seasonal specialties.
In addition to delivery operations, Oberweis runs corporate-owned "Dairy and Ice Cream Stores" within the Chicago metropolitan area that sell many of the same products available through home delivery. Their distribution system also supplies local grocery chains and supports a franchise program that enabled expansion into Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, and Michigan after 2004.
In 2012, the firm introduced "That Burger Joint," a franchise concept featuring premium fast food hamburgers.
History
Established in 1927 by Peter J. Oberweis following his earlier milk sales beginning in 1915, the company originated from a family farm located in Aurora, Illinois. During the Great Depression era, Peter’s son Joe left high school to help run the business and led it through the 1950s.
In 1986, Jim Oberweis purchased the enterprise from his brother and later appointed his son Joe as CEO in 2007. In October 2022, the company altered its sourcing approach by moving from exclusively family farm suppliers to utilizing open-market cooperatives.
After encountering financial difficulties, Oberweis filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April 2024. By May of that year, ownership was transferred to the Hoffmann Family of Companies—a private equity group headquartered in Winnetka, Illinois—through bankruptcy court proceedings with intentions to preserve and potentially grow the brand. The acquisition was completed in June 2024 by Osprey Capital LLC, the investment division of Hoffmann Family.
Home delivery
Since its founding in 1927, Oberweis has maintained a home delivery service that continues the tradition of distributing products in glass bottles reminiscent of milk deliveries common in the 1960s. Currently, a smartphone application supports customers by enabling real-time tracking and scheduled delivery management for improved service efficiency.
Dairy and Ice Cream Stores
Initiated in 1951, Oberweis’s Dairy and Ice Cream Stores include both corporate-owned and franchised units located throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs as well as northwest Indiana, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Detroit. Innovations such as drive-through lanes and a lunch/sandwich menu were first tested at the North Aurora corporate facility before being implemented more broadly. By 2012, each store produced annual revenues ranging from $1.25 million to $1.75 million, playing a key role in driving the company’s overall revenue growth and market presence.
That Burger Joint
In 2012, Oberweis ventured into the quick-service restaurant sector by launching That Burger Joint. This move aimed to compete with established chains such as Five Guys, broadening Oberweis’s product range and entering new customer markets.
Woodgrain Neapolitan Pizzeria
Oberweis expanded its portfolio in 2017 by acquiring Woodgrain Neapolitan Pizzeria, which introduced handcrafted personal pizzas to its menu. This strategic addition strengthened its footprint in the fast-casual dining segment and contributed to business expansion through diversification.
External links
- Pages with broken file links
- Dairy products companies of the United States
- Drink companies of the United States
- Privately held companies based in Illinois
- Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024
- Ice cream brands
- Companies based in Kane County, Illinois
- Fast-food chains of the United States
- Ice cream parlors in the United States
- 1927 establishments in Illinois
- Illinois culture
- American companies established in 1927
- Food and drink companies established in 1927
- Food and drink companies based in Illinois
- Restaurant franchises
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment