Le Mars, Iowa — The Dean Foods plant in Le Mars has changed signs, and is now a Kemps plant.
Kemps is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dairy Farmers of America, a farmer-owned dairy cooperative. The cooperative announced in February that they were entering into a purchase agreement with Dean Foods through which they were to acquire a substantial portion of Dean Foods’ business operations.
Greg Kurr, chief executive officer of Kemps, says that Kemps has always been about “bringing goodness — in the products that we produce and the communities that we serve.” He says the Kemps family is “thrilled to introduce our line of great-tasting products to consumers and retailers throughout Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas City.”
Kemps says the Le Mars facility, which currently employs more than 200 people, produces fluid milk, cottage cheese, cream, dips, fruit juices, ice cream mix, and sour cream. Additionally, the current management team will continue to handle the plant’s day-to-day operations, and all employees will retain their current positions.
Dean Foods has several brands, including Dairy Pure, TruMoo, and Land O’Lakes. The Dean Foods plant started out as a Wells Dairy plant. Wells Dairy sold its fluid milk and cultured dairy division to Dean Foods in 2007 and 2008, including the Le Mars plant. (Wells retained their ice cream and frozen treat division, and sells those products under the Blue Bunny and several other names.)
