Old Home Creameries was incorporated in the state of Minnesota on May 9, 1925. On Mr. Davies’ first day in business, he sold 11 pounds of his new cottage cheese. On the second day, he sold 60 pounds and on the third day, 90 pounds. By 1930, the company had 30 employees and 14 trucks and was producing over a million pounds annually to keep up with the demand.

In the spring of 1939, Old Home Creameries moved into a new location at 2521 East Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. By then, the company had over 30 employees and a payroll of over $60,000. In 1946, the company took delivery of the first mechanically refrigerated trucks. According to Mr. Davies’ report to the stockholders, “...The driver returns off his route at the end of the days work, he loads his cheese for the next day, puts his truck away for the night, plugs in the electricity and the Frigidaire compressor brings the inside of the truck and the products down to nearly freezing. This has eliminated the old method of hauling a bunker around filled with ice to keep the product cold, saving space for payload.”

In 1947, Minnesota passed a new milk grading law that made it compulsory for dairy farmers to produce "clean milk." Old Home Creameries began planning "a fully equipped dairy laboratory with a "lab man" in charge to provide the necessary steps in quality production." The company purchased its most expensive piece of equipment ever – a York plate pasteurizer for $9,394.83. "It is the latest word in pasteurization and almost a must with modern milk plants. It is a lifetime proposition, made entirely of stainless steel...”

In 1950, Old Home Creameries began to manufacture yogurt and introduced the Dr. Gaymont brand of yogurt to Minnesota. On Christmas Eve of that year, Mr. Davies passed away at the age of 60 and his son Ted was named President. In 1951, Old Home Creameries started advertising on Minneapolis streetcars and buses. In 1960, the company was sold to the Hansons, a St. Paul family that had been in the dairy business since 1912.

Peter Arthur Hanson, known as "P.A.", started the Rice Street Dairy, in [1912]. Located on the corner of Rice and Charles Streets, P.A. and his wife Ella ran the business from the first floor of the building while the family lived on the second floor. In 1916, P.A. and two other investors purchased the Casey Pure Milk Company. The three executives placed an ad in the local newspaper, asking for suggestions for the new company’s name. The winning name: St. Paul Milk Company.

The six Hanson children, Violet, Harvey, George, Art, Mantor and Earl, grew up working for St. Paul Milk. One of the sons, Harvey, had a milk delivery route with a horse named Tony. While Harvey would carry the milk up to the house, Tony would walk ahead and wait patiently at the next house! Over time, Harvey became Sales Manager for the company. The consummate salesperson, Harvey wore a white coat, a white hat and drove a white Cadillac. He personally managed the St. Paul Milk Company’s trade accounts, including the St. Paul Hotel, The Criterion and other fine St. Paul restaurants.

In 1956, P.A., Harvey, George, Mantor and Earl, together with the Farmers Co-op Creamery, purchased the Minnesota Milk Company. In 1960, P.A. and his sons bought Old Home Creameries from Ted Davies and changed the name of the company to Old Home Foods, Incorporated.

George, a natural entrepreneur, became personal friends with Dr. Gaymont and expanded Old Home Food’s distribution to include additional flavors of the renowned yogurt. Soon, Old Home Foods was the biggest distributor of Gaymont Yogurt in the country. George’s other accomplishments included founding Dairy Fresh, a Minneapolis dairy company, and developing free-standing milk dispensers that looked like giant 1/2 gallon milk containers – early cousins of the soda machine!

After George passed away his son Rick Hanson followed in his footsteps as CEO. Rick was deeply involved in Old Home his entire life prior to assuming the CEO role. He worked in various areas of the company including marketing, production, sales (including running his own sales route!), and as Old Home’s President for 10 years before assuming the CEO title. Rick served as Old Home's CEO until 2002. Rick is still very much involved in the company and continues to serve as Old Home's Chairman of the Board.

In 2002, Geoff Murphy became President of Old Home, after a long and distinguished career in the competitive yogurt industry. His ability to innovate and rapidly execute propelled the company to achieve record results, and Geoff was named Chief Executive Officer in 2006. He is the first non-family member to lead the company, but under Geoff’s leadership, the company continues its tradition of innovation started by Mr. Francis A. Davies and the Hanson family. Watch for more exciting news and products to come!