The Secret to Ice Cream Success Begins Right in Sandwich, IL

In the heart of Sandwich, Illinois, lies a little-known secret that has been fueling the success of some of the most beloved ice cream brands across the nation—Meadowvale. They produce the liquid dairy mix that is poured into ice cream machines to make soft serve, ice cream, and frozen custard. Each mix is a different formula specifically made for the customers needs. It starts with fresh milk and cream from local, Midwest dairy farms which is expertly blended with sugar, egg yolks, and stabilizers. You might have noticed the 5 big silos at the front of the building visible from 6th Street. The silos store fresh milk and cream delivered daily from dairy tankers.

The 57-year-old dairy mix manufacturing company has become a cornerstone of the frozen dessert industry, providing high-quality dairy mixes to both national chains and small, family-owned ice cream shops all across the United States.

Meadowvale’s story began over half a century ago in Joliet, IL, where the company started by supplying soft serve mix to local Dairy Queen stores. After a subsequent move to Yorkville, IL, Meadowvale continued to grow, and in 2003, they began supplying Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, which at the time had just two stores. Today, Freddy’s has expanded to over 500 locations across the United States. The company’s relocation to Sandwich in 2018 marked a major turning point in its growth and influence.

“Moving to Sandwich allowed us to scale our operations and meet the growing demands of our customers,” says Joe Gomoll, CEO of Meadowvale. “It’s incredible to see how far we’ve come, from serving local shops to becoming a trusted supplier for major national brands.”

Meadowvale has become a trusted supplier to iconic brands like Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Andy’s Frozen Custard, Shake Shack, and Handel’s Ice Cream. These national powerhouses trust Meadowvale’s premium dairy mix for their famous treats.

But Meadowvale’s impact isn’t limited to large franchises. The company also plays a crucial role in the success of countless mom-and-pop shops across the United States. These small businesses, often family-run and deeply rooted in their communities, have found in Meadowvale a partner dedicated to quality and consistency. By providing them with the same high-caliber dairy mixes used by industry giants, Meadowvale empowers these shops to compete and thrive in a crowded marketplace.

Alicia Collins, Digital Marketing Manager, notes the dedication and effort smaller shops put into sourcing quality dairy mix and the commitment Meadowvale has to delivering it

“These smaller shops pull out all of the stops to get quality dairy mix. It’s not an easy feat if there are no distributors stocking the product nearby. We direct ship from our dock to stores all over the United States. We even have a customer that receives delivery in Washington, and puts it on a boat to bring it up to Alaska. They hand unload pallets with 50lb boxes because they want Meadowvale mix.”

Of course being in the digital realm, she wishes Meadowvale products were readily accessible to any company that reaches out for mix.

“In the past, we’ve faced challenges in accommodating every lead due to storage constraints, location issues, or order minimums. Not every store can handle the delivery of a full pallet on a 53-foot semi. To address this, we’re exploring various solutions to make Meadowvale mix more accessible, including an e-commerce option that we’re just starting to develop. This would allow for smaller orders and shipping via UPS/FedEx, making it easier for more customers to access our products. We’re excited to bring the Meadowvale brand online, enabling customers to place orders with a click and receive deliveries through a third-party service. This marks the next step in our growth on the sales and marketing side,” says Collins.

All milk and cream used in Meadowvale dessert mix is sourced from local dairy farms in the Midwest. What sets Meadowvale apart is its unwavering commitment to quality. In the most recent SQF (Safe Quality Food) audit, Meadowvale achieved a perfect score of 100 which is quite rare.

Meadowvale is one of the few, if not the only, employee-owned dairy mix plants in the U.S., which adds an extra layer of care to their work. As larger dairy operations are increasingly being consolidated under giants like DFA (Dairy Farmers of America), Meadowvale’s independence allows them to maintain a unique position in the market. This dedication to excellence has not only solidified Meadowvale’s reputation but also contributed to the success of countless ice cream businesses nationwide.

“As an employee-owned company, we’re focused on long-term success rather than short-term gains. This perspective allows us to prioritize quality, sustainability, and the well-being of our employees, which ultimately benefits our customers and the communities we serve,” says Gomoll.

Meadowvale is proud to support the Sandwich Fair, Sandwich T-Ball Association, Sandwich Sports Boosters, Open Door, as well as many other local events and organizations.

The next time you indulge in your favorite ice cream treat, remember that the secret to its success might just be the dairy mix from Meadowvale, made with care and expertise in the small town of Sandwich, Illinois. You can sample it yourself by trying a soft serve treat at Johnny K’s in Sandwich, where Meadowvale supplies the vanilla and chocolate soft serve mix.