Turkey Hill (company)
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| Industry | Dairy manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1931 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Founder | Armor Frey |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Andy Jacobs (CEO) |
| Products | Beverages, ice cream, frozen desserts |
Number of employees | 800 |
| Website | turkeyhill.com |
Turkey Hill Dairy, commonly known as Turkey Hill, is a U.S.-based brand recognized for its production of iced tea, ice cream, and frozen dessert items distributed both nationally and internationally. The company's headquarters are located in Conestoga, Pennsylvania. From 1985 until 2019, Turkey Hill operated as a subsidiary of Kroger before being acquired by the private equity firm Peak Rock Capital.
Turkey Hill Dairy functions independently from Turkey Hill Minit Markets, a chain of convenience stores with over 260 sites across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, maintaining a separate business focus centered on dairy product manufacturing.
In 2011, the company unveiled The Turkey Hill Experience, a 17,000-square-foot interactive venue in Columbia, Pennsylvania that highlights the brand’s heritage and production techniques, aimed at strengthening customer engagement and brand visibility.
History
Established in 1931 by entrepreneur Armor Frey amid the Great Depression, Turkey Hill began as a family-operated dairy delivering bottled milk locally. The name "Turkey Hill" originates from "Turkey Hill Ridge," a local landmark named by the Conestoga Indians due to the abundance of wild turkeys in the area.
Ownership passed to Frey’s sons—Glen, Emerson, and Charles—in 1947, who then expanded the business. By 1954, the company had ventured into ice cream manufacturing initially catering to markets within Lancaster County. Distribution expanded significantly in 1981 when ice cream products reached Philadelphia retailers, followed by further growth into New Jersey and other East Coast regions.
During the early 2000s, Turkey Hill extended its distribution westward to cities including Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. Presently, Turkey Hill’s iced tea is sold in 45 states while its ice cream reaches consumers in 43 states, illustrating substantial expansion and market penetration.
Ownership and leadership
In 1985, both the dairy operations and retail stores were acquired by Dillons, a subsidiary of Kroger. Despite this change in ownership, the Frey family retained considerable management influence; Charles Frey, Armor Frey’s son, served as president. In 1991, leadership transitioned to Quintin Frey, Emerson Frey’s son. On May 28, 2013, Kroger Company announced Quintin Frey’s retirement, marking another shift in executive leadership.
Wind turbines
In 2011, Turkey Hill collaborated with PPL Renewable Energy and the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority to obtain electricity generated by two General Electric wind turbines installed on the Frey Farm landfill adjacent to its production facility. These turbines supply approximately one-quarter of Turkey Hill's yearly electricity consumption, underscoring the company’s dedication to sustainable energy practices and operational efficiency.
Products
By 2012, Turkey Hill Dairy was producing significant quantities including frozen dairy dessert, iced tea and other beverages, as well as milk. Since the year 2000, Turkey Hill has consistently been ranked among the leading refrigerated iced tea brands nationwide and was recognized as the fourth-largest ice cream manufacturer in 2011, trailing behind major industry players like Nestlé, Unilever, and Wells' Dairy.
Ice cream
Turkey Hill's ice cream lineup encompasses 63 standard and seasonal flavors spanning ice cream, frozen dairy dessert, and sherbet categories. These products come in various sizes—retail and commercial—including , , and . The primary product ranges consist of Premium Ice Cream, All Natural Ice Cream, No Sugar Added options, frozen dairy dessert (a vegetable oil-based alternative), along with sherbet selections.
Iced tea
The iced tea range from Turkey Hill includes more than 20 core and seasonal flavor varieties. The brand focuses on preserving quality by employing a cold bottling technique followed by refrigerated shipping and storage, ensuring freshness is maintained at retail locations.
Other beverages
Beyond its ice cream offerings, Turkey Hill’s beverage portfolio features fruit drinks such as lemonade and fruit punch, a variety of milk products (including fat free, 1% lowfat, 2% reduced fat, whole milk, and 1% low fat chocolate milk), as well as seasonal items like egg nog.
Partnerships and sponsorships
Turkey Hill Dairy has formed strategic alliances with companies such as Snyder's of Hanover, Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, and Tootsie Roll Industries' Junior Mints. These collaborations have resulted in co-branded ice cream flavors that capitalize on the partner brands' recognition.
In the past, Turkey Hill supported professional sports teams including the Lancaster Stormers, Camden Riversharks, and York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The company also collaborated with Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union; Major League Baseball’s Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees; and the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers. These partnerships involved creating official team-themed ice cream flavors that helped expand Turkey Hill’s visibility through sports marketing efforts.
Turkey Hill Experience
Located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the Turkey Hill Experience is a 17,000 square-foot attraction dedicated to showcasing the company’s legacy and production processes for ice cream and iced tea. Opened in June 2011 in Columbia—approximately six miles from the main Conestoga manufacturing plant—it functions as both a marketing tool and an interactive brand engagement venue.
Displays and exhibits
This hands-on attraction offers educational displays about Turkey Hill Dairy’s history and product development. Guests can design virtual ice cream flavors using green-screen technology to appear in simulated Turkey Hill commercials. In June 2013, the Turkey Hill Taste Lab was introduced to further enrich visitor participation by providing opportunities for experimental flavor creation.
History
The Turkey Hill Experience is situated within a former Ashley and Bailey silk mill, which dates back to 1899. Over time, the property underwent multiple ownership transitions before being left vacant in the late 1970s, following Tidy Products' discontinuation of its use as a garment manufacturing site. After remaining unused for more than 25 years, Turkey Hill collaborated with a developer to restore and repurpose the facility.
Two additional Ashley and Bailey silk mills located in West York and Marietta, Pennsylvania, have been recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.
See also
External links
- Pages with broken file links
- 1985 mergers and acquisitions
- 1931 establishments in Pennsylvania
- 2019 mergers and acquisitions
- American companies established in 1931
- Companies based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
- Drink companies of the United States
- Food and drink companies based in Pennsylvania
- Food and drink companies established in 1931
- Ice cream brands
- Iced tea brands
- Kroger
- Retail companies established in 1931
- Pennsylvania culture
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment