A Hundred Years, One Standard
What started out as a local milk route and a young, bright eyed Peter Oberweis delivering milk to his Aurora neighbors has grown into a Midwestern tradition. We plan to be here for the long haul: we’re growing to more than 40 stores across Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri, with new communities in Pennsylvania and Florida on the horizon. And it's not just stores; our home delivery service continues to bring Oberweis to generations of families. Over the years, Oberweis has been many things: horse-drawn milk routes, a neighborhood dairy store, an ice cream shop, a home-delivery service, a grocery-store staple, and a growing family of stores. We have modernized how we deliver, but we’ve never stopped asking the same question Peter did nearly a century ago: How can we take better care of our neighbors? A century of history also means a century of change. Oberweis has experienced seasons of growth, challenge, reinvention, and transition. Like any brand with a long history, there are chapters that helped shape who we are today and moments that remind us that a company’s reputation is built not only by what it says, but by what it does. That history cannot simply be rewritten. Instead, our next chapter gives us an opportunity to show, through our actions, what Oberweis stands for today. As we approach our 100th anniversary, our motto is One Oberweis, serving happiness to our communities and our neighbors with care. That means creating stores where everyone feels welcome. It means building relationships with the communities we enter rather than simply opening doors in them. It means supporting local organizations, showing up for community events, listening to the people who call these places home, and being a neighbor before we ask anyone to be a customer. That's how we honor 100 years, and how we earn the next. A hundred years later, our neighbors are numbered in the millions and stretch across the map, but the responsibility hasn't changed one bit. Our milkman may look a little different today, but the spirit behind those early-morning deliveries still beats at the heart of our brand.
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OBERWEIS DAIRY C. 1938

Peter Oberweis purchases the remaining interest in Big Woods Dairy and renames it Oberweis Dairy.

FIRST ICE CREAM STORE 1951

Joe Oberweis, son of Peter Oberweis, opens the first ice cream store in Aurora, Illinois, perfecting his recipe and process for producing super premium ice cream - The current Oberweis Dairy remains true to his process and many of his original recipes even today.

DAIRY RUNS DEEP

JOHN OBERWEIS JOINS FAMILY BUSINESS 1960's

One of Joe’s two sons, John, joins the family business, which he runs until his death in 1986.

SECOND STORE OPENS 1991

The second Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy Store opens in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, after 40 years of having just a single location. This location is still in operation, now just down the road with a new co-located restaurant concept, That Burger Joint.

OBERWEIS DAIRY Today

Oberweis continues to expand its home delivery service in the Midwest. Expansion of the retail ice cream shops continues with a co-located restaurant concept, That Burger Joint.
The Oberweis Story

We do not compromise on the ingredients we select or the processing methods we use or the superior taste you've come to expect.

For nearly 100 years, the Oberweis family has produced premium quality dairy products and more. The commitment to be the best for your family drives every decision we make because we want the best for our family, too. We do not compromise on the care of our cows, our dedication to nutrition, the time-honored processing methods we use or the superior taste you've come to expect. That’s why Oberweis is the most trusted name in dairy and beyond.

Historical Timeline

 

1915

Peter Oberweis, a dairy farmer in Aurora, Illinois, began selling extra milk to his neighbors from the back of a horse drawn wagon in 1915.

1927

Demand grew and by 1927, Peter became the co-owner for Big Woods Dairy. In 1929, he purchased the remaining interest in Big Woods Dairy and renamed it Oberweis Dairy. As the depression hit, Peter’s son, Joe had to drop out of high school to help his father operate the business.

 

1951

In 1951, Joe opened the first Oberweis Ice Cream & Dairy Store in Aurora, Illinois. He perfected the process of producing super premium ice cream– creating many recipes still used today.

1960

In the early 1960's one of Joe's sons, John, joined the family business and eventually led the company until he became ill in the mid 1980’s.

1986

Jim Oberweis (John’s brother), bought the business in 1986. He and his wife, Elaine, took over as chairman and president respectively. They directed the business onto a growth trajectory which continues to this day. Since 1986, the company has grown by opening more stores, expanding it’s home delivery service area and developing partnerships with local grocery stores.

1991

In 1991, the second Oberweis Ice Cream & Dairy store was opened in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The community response was overwhelmingly positive. There are now 43 Oberweis stores in 3 states.

1996

In 1996, Oberweis Dairy relocated to a brand new production facility, corporate office and dairy store in North Aurora, Illinois where the company is still headquartered today. The new facility allowed for a tripling in milk production capacity and a tenfold increase in ice cream production capacity. A later expansion provided an additional tenfold increase in ice cream production capability.

2017

The Home Delivery business expanded to include Virginia in 2009 and North Carolina in 2017.

2019

In November 2019, in addition to continuing production of Traditional Oberweis Milk, production began on a new line of USDA certified Oberweis Organic Milk.