TILLAMOOK, Ore. — Tillamook Ice Cream, the fastest-growing family-size ice cream brand in the U.S., has started production at its new manufacturing facility in Decatur, Illinois. This marks the first owned-and-operated plant outside of Oregon for the 116-year-old Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), signaling a significant step in the co-op’s national expansion.
David Booth, TCCA president and CEO, highlighted the strategic importance of the Decatur site: “Decatur offers strategic access to our growing customer and consumer base, and we hope this new production facility will help enable Tillamook to become the ice cream of choice for consumers in the Eastern United States.”
The facility is designed to produce up to 15.5 million gallons of ice cream annually as production scales. Mike Bever, TCCA’s executive vice president and chief supply chain officer, noted that the plant will enhance supply chain efficiency and support a growing network of national and regional retailers.
Since 2021, Tillamook family size ice cream has attracted 4.4 million new consumers, with over half coming from the Eastern U.S., driving a 13% sales growth in 2024 alone. This surge underscores the increasing demand fueling Tillamook’s expansion efforts.
The new Decatur plant has created 50 jobs locally, with plans to grow the workforce as production ramps up. It is also a vital part of Decatur’s neighborhood revitalization, transforming a previously vacant facility into a hub of economic activity. Julie Moore Wolfe, mayor of Decatur, welcomed the company’s arrival, emphasizing the positive community impact and the alignment with the city’s values.
TCCA is actively engaging with the Decatur community through philanthropic initiatives, including a $50,000 commitment (matched by the project’s general contractor JP Cullen) supporting local programs such as youth recreation, food security efforts by Good Samaritan Inn, and the Macon County Fair.
“Decatur isn’t just where we are making more ice cream — it’s where we’re building new community partnerships, supporting revitalization, and laying the groundwork for future growth,” said Booth.
Beyond ice cream, Tillamook also leads as the fastest-growing cheese and cream cheese brand nationwide, with one in four American households purchasing Tillamook products in 2024.
Related topics
- Matcha Ice Cream: Flavor Trend and Franchise Potential
- The Scoop on Blue Moon: Wisconsin’s Enduring Love for a Mysterious Ice Cream Flavor
- Kroger Celebrates Summer With 92,000 Free Ice Cream Pints
