The 10 Largest Ice Cream Companies In The United States

The United States ice cream industry has continued to thrive, with total sales reaching approximately $7.8 billion in 2021 and maintaining steady growth in subsequent years. This resilience is attributed to a sustained demand for both traditional and innovative ice cream products.

Experts anticipate that the ice cream industry will experience consistent growth over the next several years, with a projected CAGR of about 3.5% from 2021 through 2026. This growth is fueled by evolving consumer preferences, including a rising demand for dairy alternatives and premium flavors.

This article explores the ten largest ice cream companies in the United States by annual revenue, offering insights into their histories, flagship products, and production capabilities.

10 Largest Ice Cream Companies By Annual Revenue

1. Private label/local brands.
   2022 Sales: $1.29 billion

   The United States ice cream market is dominated by small private labels that sell their ice cream locally. Private label sales in 2020 alone amounted to 392 million units, more than double that of the top solo brand, Ben & Jerry’s.

   Although not an actual company, we included this at the top of the list as it demonstrates a key aspect of the ice cream industry. Research and industry experts have consistently found that consumers value ice cream brands perceived to be local and homegrown.

   As you’ll soon see, most of the largest solo ice cream brands strive to cultivate this image in their advertising and branding efforts.

2. Ben & Jerry’s. Burlington, Vermont
   2022 Sales: $910.68 million

   Ben & Jerry’s is the world’s largest manufacturer of ice cream, sorbet, and frozen yogurt by annual revenue. The company operated independently from its founding in 1978 until 2000, when it was acquired by Unilever.

   Ben & Jerry’s operates production facilities in three states, as well as the Netherlands and Israel. The company is renowned for its diverse selection of 54 flavors, with cookie dough being the best-seller.

   Much of their early success is attributed to the wide variety of flavors, a rarity in the ice cream market.

   Ben & Jerry’s has also garnered significant both criticism and praise for its outspoken political activism, which is regarded as integral to the company’s core values.

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3. Haagen Dazs. Minneapolis, MN
   2022 Sales: $785.14 million

   Haagen Dazs was founded in 1960 and operated as an independent creamery until 1983, when it was acquired by the Pillsbury Company.

   General Mills later acquired Pillsbury in 2001 and currently owns the Haagen Dazs brand. Despite its Danish-sounding name, it was actually created by founders Rose and Reuben Mattis to evoke Denmark’s reputable dairy industry.

   Haagen Dazs markets itself as a premium brand, offering traditional flavors like vanilla and chocolate, alongside unique options such as Bananas Foster and Vanilla Swiss Almond.

   The company manufactures most of its products in a General Mills-owned factory located in Tilloy-Les-Mofflaines, France.

4. Blue Bell Creameries. Brenham, Texas
   2022 Sales: $657.39 million

   Founded in 1907, Blue Bell started as a butter manufacturer in Brenham, Texas. The company ventured into ice cream production in the early 1920s, eventually focusing solely on ice cream and expanding across the Southern United States.

   As of 2021, Blue Bell primarily operates in the American South, with its northernmost sales territories being Indianapolis and Denver.

   Although not the largest ice cream company in the country, Blue Bell holds a dominating market share in every state where it sells, boasting a 52% market share in Texas alone.

   Blue Bell employs 2,800 workers across three production facilities, collectively producing over 100 pints every minute during operational hours. The company currently offers 66 flavors, with Homemade Vanilla being the top seller.

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5. Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
   2022 Sales: $498.43 million

   The Breyers Ice Cream Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Unilever, producing a variety of frozen desserts including ice cream, frozen yogurt, and gelato.

   Due to not meeting the milk-content labeling requirements for ice cream, its products are marketed as “Frozen Dairy Dessert” in the U.S. Unilever acquired the Breyers brand from Kraft in 1993, though Kraft retained the yogurt name.

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6. Dreyer’s. Oakland, California
   2022 Sales: $372.23 million

   Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Froneri, a joint venture between PAI Partners and Nestle. The company sells ice cream under the Dreyer’s brand in the Western U.S. and Texas, and under the Edy’s name in the Midwest.

   As of 2020, Dreyer’s employed 2,400 people across seven production facilities, producing three million gallons of ice cream annually.

   Its Bakersfield, California and Laurel, Maryland factories rank among the largest worldwide.

   One of Dreyer’s signature processes is the slow-churn technique, which allows for a similar texture and taste to regular ice cream but with reduced sugar and fat content. The company offers 78 flavors, with Classic Vanilla and Mint Chocolate Chip being the most popular.

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7. Turkey Hill Dairy. Conestoga, Pennsylvania
   2022 Sales: $273.21 million

   Turkey Hill Dairy, known as Turkey Hill, is an international producer and distributor of ice cream, iced tea, and other frozen desserts.

   Since its establishment in 1931, Turkey Hill operated independently until Kroger acquired it in 1985. Kroger later sold it in 2019 to Peak Rock Capital, which currently owns the brand.

   Turkey Hill Dairy produces over 29 million gallons of ice cream each year, offering 72 distinct flavors across various lines, including Premium Ice Cream, Stuff’d, and All Natural Ice Cream. The company also collaborates with dessert brands like Tootsie Roll Industries’ Junior Mints and Gertrude Hawk Chocolates to create themed flavors.

   Turkey Hill has established partnerships with major sports teams, including the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

   As an early adopter of green energy, Turkey Hill partnered with PPL Renewable Energy in 2011 to purchase electricity generated by General Electric-owned wind farms, accounting for 25% of the company’s annual electricity usage.

8. Tillamook. Tillamook, Oregon
   2022 Sales: $251.41 million

   The Tillamook County Creamery Association, simply known as Tillamook, is a dairy cooperative that manufactures, distributes, and sells a variety of dairy products across the United States.

   While their most popular item is Tillamook Cheddar, they also produce ice cream, yogurt, and butter. Tillamook markets its ice cream as a premium brand, emphasizing ultra-smooth textures and artisanal ingredients in its marketing.

   The cooperative employs over 900 people and operates nearly 100 dairy farms, primarily in Tillamook County, Oregon. The Tillamook Creamery division produces all ice cream products at facilities located in Tillamook and Boardman, Oregon.

9. Talenti. Minneapolis, MN
   2022 Sales: $203.09 million

   Talenti is the largest producer of gelato and sorbet in the United States. Founded in 2003, it operated independently until its acquisition by Unilever in 2014.

   While Talenti has a few independent storefronts, most of its products are sold in pre-packaged containers at large retail stores like Walmart.

   The company offers 30 flavors of gelato and sorbet and has recently focused on enhancing its image as an environmentally sustainable brand. All Talenti packaging is 100% recyclable, a point emphasized in its marketing.

   Talenti produces over 300,000 pints of gelato across various Unilever-owned production facilities.

10. Wells Enterprises, Inc. LeMars, Iowa
    2022 Sales: $154.17 million

    Wells Enterprises is the largest family-owned ice cream producer in the United States. In addition to its flagship Blue Bunny brand, the company also produces ice cream under the labels Bomb Pop, St. Creamery, and Weight Watchers Ice Cream.

    Wells Enterprises’ ice cream products are labeled with a seal titled “Real Ice Cream,” introduced following the FDA’s 2009 changes to ice cream labeling requirements, which caused many competitors’ offerings to fall outside the definition.

    The company owns the world’s largest ice cream manufacturing facility, branding the location as the “Ice Cream Capital of the World.”

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Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.