Quality Dairy Company is a family-owned dairy, bakery, and retail/ convenience store chain in the Lansing, Michigan metro area. The first Quality Dairy Store was opened in 1936 and as of 2023 there are 26 retail locations in the Mid-Michigan area. Quality Dairy Company's headquarters is located near

REO Town REO Town is a district in Lansing, Michigan, United States, located south of downtown. The neighborhood is bordered by West Malcolm X Street to the north; South Cedar Street BL I-96 to the east; West Mount Hope Avenue to the south; and Townsend ...

Lansing Lansing () is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is mostly in Ingham County, although portions of the city extend west into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. The 2020 census placed the city's population at 112,644, makin ...

and operates its Dairy Plant and Bakery Plant from central Lansing as well. Quality Dairy has been one of Mid-Michigan's largest employers for over 50 years and produces over 150 different products in its Lansing area facilities. The chain caters primarily to neighborhood clientele, many of whom do not have the benefit of personal transportation. Quality Dairy has focused on keeping prices low on staples such as

milk Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfed human infants) before they are able to digest solid food. Immune factors and immune-modula ...

eggs Humans and human ancestors have scavenged and eaten animal eggs for millions of years. Humans in Southeast Asia had domesticated chickens and harvested their eggs for food by 1,500 BCE. The most widely consumed eggs are those of fowl, especial ...

and bread but makes its profits from sales of

alcoholic beverages An alcoholic beverage (also called an alcoholic drink, adult beverage, or a drink) is a drink that contains ethanol, a type of alcohol that acts as a drug and is produced by fermentation of grains, fruits, or other sources of sugar. The cons ...

tobacco products Tobacco is the agricultural product of the leaves of plants in the genus ''Nicotiana'', commonly termed ''tobacco plants''. All species of ''Nicotiana'' contain the addictive drug nicotine—a psychostimulant alkaloid found in all parts of the ...

, snack foods and beverages, lottery tickets, and other convenience items sold at premium prices.

History

Quality Dairy Company was founded in March 1936 by Gregory J. Martin and Harvey Mack. The first store was located at 1406 South Washington Avenue. The original company mission included providing bottled milk on a cash and carry basis from small neighborhood milk stores. In 1940, Quality Dairy Company started producing, distributing, and selling ice cream. Since then, the stores have expanded offerings including grocery items, adding cereals, soups, canned vegetables and fruits, snacks and more, along with a selection of meat, cheese and frozen food items. Dipped ice cream was added in 1969. In 1955, Quality Dairy Company’s ownership changed. Harvey Mack sold to Gregory J. Martin who brought in three additional family owners shortly thereafter. Currently, Quality Dairy Company operates 27 stores throughout Greater Lansing. All but two locations sell beer and wine and many sell packaged liquor. Some locations offer gasoline while others have laundromats. In addition to retail stores, Quality Dairy Company operates its central production and distribution facility, QD Central, which includes its bakery, commissary and deli distribution center. Holt Storefront Aerial Shot

Dairy Plant

Quality Dairy Company was founded when there were a large number of dairies in

Ingham County Ingham County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 284,900. The county seat is Mason. Lansing, the state capital of Michigan, is largely located within the county. (Lansing is the only ...

. Today, the company distributes milk from the local dairy farms to its 27 stores daily. The company also produces flavored milks, juices, fruit drinks, chip dip, and more, all of which are distributed from its central hub, Quality Dairy Central, located just south of Lansing's REO Town. The company also offers its own brand of Premium Ice Creams in a variety of flavors.

Quality Dairy Bakery Plant

The Quality Dairy Bakery started in 1970 in the back room of one of the stores. When the bakery outgrew the space, it moved to a larger location. Today, the bakery is housed in a 37,000 sq. ft. facility in Lansing. The Quality Dairy Commissary operates in the same facility. The bakery produces over 45 varieties of donuts, including classic cake donuts and yeast raised varieties. It also offer cookies, muffins, pastries, and other baked goods.

Quality Dairy Commissary

The Quality Dairy Commissary was founded in the mid-1970s. The commissary provides a wide variety of food items to the stores five days a week.

References

{{Convenience stores in North America, state=collapsed Convenience stores of the United States 1936 establishments in Michigan Family-owned companies of the United States