How long does it take to build a business? 10 years? 50? Well, at Anderson Erickson Dairy, we like to think we’re always a work in progress. That means there’s always room for improvement. We’re encouraged to treat every new day as an opportunity to move forward, and like the sunrise, we start off strong.
Iver Erickson founded our dairy in 1930 with a little help in the form of investment from childhood friend William “Andy” Anderson. With just $15,000, they purchased the necessary equipment, property and vehicles. The pair were ready to show Des Moines and every Iowan what their dairy could offer. But things were tough at first.
You see, AE was born at the beginning of the Great Depression. What’s more, 150 other dairies were currently operating in Des Moines. Not the best time to start a business, but Iver and Andy weren’t deterred by the competition. They immersed themselves in their work and all things dairy, striving to bring people together much the way quality dairy products can. They worked throughout the week and until the job was done.
The hard work paid off. AE Dairy continued to grow, sharing delicious dairy with a growing list of fans. AE was firmly established by 1938 as one of the favored dairies in Des Moines and across Iowa. That same year, we moved to our current location and opened the dairy with a public tour for neighbors and the community, with everyone receiving samples at the end. By the turn of the millennium, AE could be found in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Illinois and Minnesota as well as Iowa.
Our success is due in part to our commitment to enduring traditions, like our weekly Taste Test to make sure every AE product meets our ridiculously high standards. This tasting tradition started all the way back in 1930 with Iver and continues today under his granddaughter Miriam. We use time-tested recipes and ingredients, and we don’t skimp on quality. With double the gourmet blend of cocoa, extra time for culturing cottage cheese and sour cream, and plenty of real fruit in our yogurt and other products, tradition and premium quality go hand in hand. But we’re also always looking to the future, introducing dozens of new flavors and other dairy innovations.
AE Dairy shares the concern to treat our earth well, leaving Iowa a clean and beautiful place for future generations. From recycling resources to sourcing local ingredients, a greener world is a better world. Learn more about our current initiatives for sustainability.
Being a different kind of dairy takes hard work, but at AE, we take care of our own. Consider starting a career at AE Dairy.
AE has had many milk and yogurt flavor firsts. Some yogurt firsts include: Blueberry Buckle, Key Lime Pie, Peach Cobbler and Strawberry White Chocolate.