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 2020 there are 29 Mid-Michigan area retail locations. Quality Dairy Company's headquarters is located near REO Town in Lansing and operates its Dairy Plant, Bakery Plant, and Injection Plastic Molding 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 draws customers with "loss leader" prices on staples such as milk, eggs and bread, but makes its profits from sales of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, 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. At the time, milk was most commonly obtained by home delivery. The original company mission included providing bottled milk on a cash and carry basis from small neighborhood milk stores. The price of milk at the time was seven cents a quart. In 1940, Quality Dairy Company started producing, distributing, and selling ice cream. Quality Dairy stores also began to sell candy and gum around the same time. Since then, the stores have greatly expanded the offering of grocery items, adding cereals, soups, canned vegetables and fruits, snacks and more, along with a selection of meat, cheese and frozen food items not typically found outside the major grocery stores. Dipped ice cream was added in 1969. In 1955, Quality Dairy Company’s ownership changed. Harvey Mack sold out to Mr. Martin who brought in 3 additional family owners shortly thereafter. Currently Quality Dairy Company operates 31 stores throughout Greater Lansing. All but two locations sell beer and wine and sixteen locations sell packaged liquor. Eight locations offer gasoline and six stores have Laundromats. In addition to retail stores, Quality Dairy Company operates several production and distribution facilities including the Dairy Plant, Bakery, Commissary and Grocery Distribution Center. QDC Plastic Container, a division of Quality Dairy Company, is a plastics blow molding facility which services the drink industry. In 2017, the Holt location was temporarily closed because of an electrical fire. The store was renovated with a streamlined design and drive-thru window, patio, walk-up window, and arctic beer cave among other new features. The store re-opened in August 2019.
Retail Locations
There are 29 retail locations in the Greater Lansing area:
When Quality Dairy Company was founded in 1936 there were a large number of dairies in Ingham County. Today there is only one – Quality Dairy Company. Quality Dairy distributes milk from local dairy farms to its stores daily. The Dairy also produces flavored milks, juices, fruit drinks, chip dip and more. The Dairy also makes ice cream 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. Not long after, the Bakery outgrew that space and moved to a new 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 40 varieties of donuts, including classic cake donuts and yeast-raised varieties. It also offer cookies, muffins, pastries, and other baked goods. Customers can also order Bakery products online and have them delivered to any retail store.
Quality Dairy Commissary
The Quality Dairy Commissary was founded in the mid-1970s. It is currently operating in the same modern 37,000 sq. ft. facility as the Bakery. The Commissary provides a wide variety of food items to the stores five days a week. It produces over three dozen varieties of sandwiches as well as wraps and salads. The Commissary also supplies the stores with a selection of fresh produce.
Injection Blow Mold Plant
QDC Plastic Container Company is the injection plastic molding division of Quality Dairy Company.
