
1925
Samuel E. Dean Sr.
Samuel E. Dean Sr. purchases the Pecatonica Marketing Company, an evaporated milk processing facility located in northwestern Illinois.
Dairy has been nourishing people for more than 10,000 years and, while we got here a little later, we’re proud of our own history that stretches back more than nine decades.
What matters is that we’ve done business with a spirit of goodness, growing from a single small milk business to a trusted source of some of the nation’s favorite food and beverages.
Samuel E. Dean Sr. purchases the Pecatonica Marketing Company, an evaporated milk processing facility located in northwestern Illinois.
The company changes its name to Dean Evaporated Milk Company, starting a lasting relationship between the Dean name and wholesome, healthy sources of nutrition. In 1929, the name would be changed again to Dean Milk Company.
With plans for growth, Dean Milk Company completes its first public offering of common stock to 1,800 shareholders.
Celebrating decades of success, the company is renamed (again). Dean Foods Company is born.
Following the acquisitions of several dairies, Dean Foods is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘DF’.
Meanwhile, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Suiza Foods makes its first dairy acquisition, marking a new era in the highly fragmented dairy industry. By 2000, Suiza Foods would become the nation’s largest dairy processor and distributor.
Suiza Foods acquires Dean Foods, soon adopting the much-loved Dean Foods brand.
In just a few short years, Dean Foods acquired White Wave, Inc. (maker of Silk?, the nation’s leading refrigerated soymilk), acquired Horizon Organic Holding Corporation (maker of several organic milk and dairy products) and launched TreeHouse Foods (NYSE:THS) to focus on pickles, dips, dressings and foodservice products
Dean Foods issues its first corporate responsibility report, taking a spirit of goodness and authenticity to business processes and practices.
Dean Foods refocuses on growing its core dairy business.
Expanding our range of brands, Dean Foods acquires Friendly’s? and embarks on a successful joint venture with Organic Valley?.
Dean Foods invests in Good Karma?, Steve’s Ice Cream? and Uncle Matt’s Organic?, growing our portfolio of great-tasting foods and beverages.
Beyond enriching lives, we believe Dean Foods can play an important role in enriching communities, good causes and the environment.
We’re driven to do right by the environment by committing to large-scale sustainability efforts.
From dairy stewardship to employee safety, the goodness goes far beyond the products we sell.
Through the Dean Foods Foundation, we take our responsibility to communities seriously.