Oberweis Dairy, headquartered in North Aurora, Illinois, is the parent company of several dairy-related and fast food restaurant operations in the midwest region of the United States.[1] Its businesses include a home delivery service available in parts of Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, and Wisconsin, which delivers traditional dairy products, including milk, ice cream, cheese, and yogurt, as well as bacon and seasonal products.
The businesses also include a chain of corporate-owned "Dairy and Ice Cream Stores", in the Chicago area,[1] which sell many of the same products as the home delivery service, a distribution service which allows for some of their products (such as milk) to be available in regional supermarkets, and also includes a franchise service,[2] which expanded the "Dairy and Ice Cream Stores" into Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, and Michigan after 2004.
In 2012, Oberweis also began a new franchise of high-end, fast food hamburger restaurants named "That Burger Joint".[3]
History
In 1915, Peter J. Oberweis began selling his excess milk to his neighbors in Kane County, Illinois; the business became full-time in 1927.[4][5] According to the Dairy's website, the family's farm was off of Molitor Road, in Aurora, Illinois. The family used a horse and milk float to deliver milk to their neighbors, beginning in 1927, after Peter J. Oberweis invested in half of the business of the Big Woods Dairy.[6]
During the Great Depression, Peter's son Joe dropped out of high school to help run the business.[7] The business continued in the family, with Joe running the business through the 1950s.
Jim Oberweis purchased the company from his brother in 1986 and named his son, Joe, CEO in 2007.[8][9][10] In October 2022, Oberweis Dairy ceased their longstanding practice of purchasing from a select group of family farm patrons and instead began purchasing it from open-market cooperatives.[4]
In April 2024, Oberweis Dairy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[11][12] In May, the Hoffmann Family of Companies, a private equity firm based in Winnetka, Illinois, won a bid to purchase Oberweis Dairy out of bankruptcy. The new owners have plans to keep the company in operation as well as potentially expanding the brand.[13]
In June 2024, Osprey Capital LLC, the investment arm of the Hoffmann Family of Companies, officially acquired Oberweis Dairy.[14][15]
Home delivery
In 1927, the company's founder began a home delivery service, which has continued since that time. Delivery has been in glass bottles, in the same way milk was delivered throughout the United States in the 1960s. A modern smartphone app supports tracking and timing deliveries.[16]
Dairy and Ice Cream Stores
In 1951, the Dairy and Ice Cream Stores began operation. The company currently has locations, both corporate-owned and franchised, throughout Chicago, its suburbs, northwest Indiana, around St. Louis, Missouri, near Indianapolis, Indiana, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and near Detroit, Michigan. Some projects for the retail stores were done on a trial basis at the company's corporate office in North Aurora (which also includes a retail store) before being put into place at other locations, such as the stores' drive-through service, and the lunch/sandwich program, which began in 2004 and ended in July 2006. In 2012, Oberweis said that each dairy store generates between $1.25 million and $1.75 million per year.[17]
That Burger Joint
In 2012, Oberweis opened their first quick-service hamburger restaurant, named That Burger Joint, intended to expand as a chain and compete directly with Five Guys.[3][18]
Woodgrain Neapolitan Pizzeria
In 2017, Oberweis Dairy acquired Woodgrain Neapolitan Pizzeria, a pizzeria serving custom made personal pizzas.[19]
External links
References
- David Weldon. How Oberweis Dairy used analytics to boost sales and win customers Information Management, August 22, 2017, retrieved December 28, 2017^
- Franchise Times Restaurant Finance Corporation, 2005, retrieved December 28, 2017^
- Oberweis launches burger joint Crain's Chicago Business, October 25, 2012, retrieved 28 March 2016^
- Stacey Smart. Oberweis Dairy lets go of its farmer patrons Dairy Star, 2022-11-12, retrieved 2024-04-11^
- Julianne Glatz. A better glass of milk Illinois Times, 2007-04-18, retrieved 2024-04-11^
- How It All Began oberweis.com, retrieved 28 March 2016^
- Caitlin Lamb. The Untold Truth Of Oberweis Dairy Mashed, 2022-08-25, retrieved 2024-04-11^
- David Sterrett. Jim Oberweis gets back to business at family dairy Crain's Chicago Business, January 9, 2010, retrieved 28 March 2016^
- Business Profile Naperville magazine, 2011-12-01, retrieved 2024-04-11^
- International Dairy Foods Association www.idfa.org, retrieved 2024-04-11^
- Oberweis Dairy files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy BKData, April 12, 2024, retrieved April 13, 2024^
- By ABC7 Chicago Digital Team. OBERWEIS DAIRY FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION; NORTH AURORA COMPANY OWES AT LEAST $4M: DOCUMENTS April 13, 2024, retrieved April 14, 2024^
- By ABC7 Chicago Digital Team. Winnetka-based company wins bid to purchase Oberweis Dairy after bankruptcy protection filing May 30, 2024, retrieved May 30, 2024^
- Allcia Fabre. Hoffman Family of Companies buys Oberweis Dairy Daily Herald, June 20, 2024, retrieved June 20, 2024^
- Livingstone Completes Sale of Oberweis Dairy to The Hoffmann Family of Companies Livingstone Partners, retrieved 2025-09-24^
- Leslie Anderson. Does Your Business Have A Culture Of Innovation? Forbes, September 24, 2015, retrieved 2016-03-28^
- Skokie Lands Sweet Prize in New Oberweis Dairy NBC5 Chicago, 2012, retrieved 28 March 2016^
- Manchir, Michelle. Oberweis Dairy to move in Glen Ellyn and join 2 new eateries Chicago Tribune, November 8, 2012, retrieved 2017-12-28^
- Daniel Gaitan. Algonquin officials approve plans for Oberweis complex on Randall Road Northwest Herald, June 6, 2018, retrieved 2019-09-07^