Cloverland Farms Dairy, an historic and well-known dairy company based in Maryland, primarily serves the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. Founded more than a century ago by Maynard Kemp, the company has grown into one of the largest independent dairies in the region.

“Cloverland Farms Dairy started in Baltimore in 1919. The company’s Monroe Street location was where its horse and wagon teams left every morning, delivering the city’s finest dairy products,” said Jim Cella, vice president of Cloverland Dairy.

“In 1932, Greenspring Dairy was founded, and over the years, Cloverland and Greenspring became the two major milk producers in the Baltimore-Washington market. Eventually, those horses and wagons were replaced by a modern motorized fleet, enabling customers throughout the state to enjoy our expanding product line.”

Cella noted that during the 1960s, home delivery grew rapidly, and the Cloverland Farms jingle, “If you don’t own a cow, call Cloverland now,” became so popular that many Baltimore natives can recall it today.

In 1995, after years of competition, Cloverland Dairy acquired Greenspring Dairy, forming Cloverland Greenspring Dairy. Today, Cloverland Dairy is known for producing and distributing a wide range of products, including white milk, flavored milk, juices and teas, cream, cultured products, ice cream and sorbet mixes, and extended shelf life (ESL) cream and milk.

The company produces Cloverland branded products, as well as co-manufactured products for regional grocery store chains throughout the mid-Atlantic.

“Cloverland operates a state-of-the-art facility in Baltimore, and our product line has grown significantly over the years,” Cella said. “Regardless of what our customers purchase, they know that the Cloverland name signifies the very best.”

Cloverland also owns Royal Farms convenience stores found throughout Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia and North Carolina. Royal Farms opened its first store in Baltimore, in 1959. The name was chosen when Cloverland Farms Dairy merged with Royal Dunloggin Dairy in 1968. In September, Royal Farms celebrated the grand opening of its 300th store location, in Millersville, Maryland.

Cloverland’s mission is to provide outstanding quality and service second to none for its customers. Cella said the company accomplishes this by building and fostering an exceptional workplace for its 300-plus employees, exceeding all federal and state quality regulations, engaging in community involvement, operating ethically without compromise, and maintaining a results-oriented environment.

“Cloverland strives for continuous improvement in processes and innovation, and encourages our employees to share ideas,” he added. “The pride in Cloverland Dairy is showcased in our quality products.”

Focus on ESL

The future of ESL dairy products looks promising due to several factors that align with consumer trends and advancements in food technology.

According to Ashley Koren, director of sales at Cloverland Dairy, fluid dairy consumption has been declining for decades. However, consumption of higher-fat and value-added dairy products has increased over the past 10-plus years.

“Plant-based and alternative milks and creamers have grown in popularity, taking space away from traditional dairy,” Koren said. “In the dairy space, the fear of consuming higher fat content has faded with consumers and ‘diet culture’ is no longer a focus. Consumers are looking for quality and taste for recipes and general consumption.”

Koren noted that fluid dairy consumption has eroded due to the availability of alternative plant-based options, shelf-life concerns and other factors. ESL allows for a longer shelf life — up to 90 days — allowing consumers who do not use large amounts to keep it on hand without worrying about it spoiling too quickly. Retailers also may keep their shelves stocked longer, reducing wasted products.

“ESL lactose-free options have also grown in popularity,” Koren added. “Consumers value taste, nutrition and sustainability when shopping for dairy products. ESL packaging versus traditional dairy packaging reduces waste and helps the environment, which is very important to certain consumers.”

Advancement in the processing of these products has steadily progressed over the past few years, with more customers demanding ESL options. The global ESL milk market was valued at $1.15 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $2.13 billion by the end of 2030, according to Verified Market Research.

Cella said Cloverland thinks that ESL is the future of fluid dairy, and the company is focused on investing and growing its ESL product line.

“ESL products benefit the consumer, manufacturer and retailers by providing a longer shelf life, maintaining nutrition, and reducing loss and shrink,” he said. “With a shelf life four times that of fresh products, ESL enables manufacturers to serve a larger geographic area, grow their brand, enter new product categories like plant-based options, and lower product shrink for retailers and consumers.”

According to Cella, ESL brings dairy to current day expectations of retailers and consumers. Looking ahead, Cloverland is exploring its ability to process non-dairy frozen mixes and other innovations on its new ESL line to keep up with consumer trends and introduce fresh ideas to the dairy space.

“The consumer is always changing, and Cloverland looks to be flexible and adaptive,” he said.

Image: Cloverland Farms Dairy

Production in perspective

Cloverland Dairy has always placed a strong emphasis on producing high quality dairy products. Its commitment to quality extends beyond its branded items, and the company said that approach is reflected in every aspect of its manufacturing process.

Cella said that Cloverland’s dedication to providing dairy products with extended shelf life and without any degradation of nutrition or flavor has led to a greater demand for its cream and milk products.

“This dedication to quality has driven the company to continuously invest in advanced technology and innovative processes,” he said.

One of the key advancements at Cloverland is its work with Integrated Packaging Machinery (IPM), which specializes in manufacturing and integration of downstream, end-of-line packaging equipment.

“IPM was integral with our ESL expansion from the start — they helped us plan the overall project, source other equipment providers, as well as support us through start-up,” Cella said.

Since the upgrade was a significant investment on the processing side, Cloverland wanted to automate its downstream to be more efficient. IPM had identified ESL as an emerging trend with many of its dairy customers, making it an ideal partner for Cloverland’s upgrade.

IPM was tasked with starting the discharge of the Galdi filler with their rigging crews and took it all the way through the plant.

IPM brought in Select Services, a project management services company, to oversee the project and manage contracts and vendors for the duration of the install.

One of the problems IPM had to help Cloverland overcome was keeping the corrugated cardboard cases from getting wet from being near the traditional plastic milk crates, which required building a room to separate the corrugate. However, the room had to sit on the other side of the plastic cases, requiring IPM to come up with a solution to get the line up and over those cases and then come back down to the newly added room for loading into the Douglas palletizer.

Cloverland chose to use robotics for their packaging lines, rather than the conventional options, allowing for two lines for palletizing. The final project consisted of three packaging lines: quart, half-gallon and 2.5 gallon bag-in-box. The quart and half-gallon lines feed to one palletizer, while the bag-in-box feeds to a separate palletizer.

The IPM partnership allowed Cloverland to significantly upgrade its packaging systems, ensuring that the company’s products reach consumers in optimal condition.

The work IPM did also allowed the company to pivot as consumer needs changed.

When the upgrades initially started, priority was put on Cloverland’s half-gallon products. But, as the market changed due to inflation, quart sales grew. Consumers were looking for ways to save money by buying smaller package sizes, meaning more focus was placed on the processing of quart-sized products.

Cella noted that the evolution of ESL products has been a major innovation for Cloverland.

“In the past, the flavor profile didn’t match a fresh product, but with all the innovations to the equipment, consumers are hard-pressed to taste a difference,” he said. “This advancement has not only improved product quality, but has also expanded our market reach, allowing us to sell products across a broader geographical area.”

Cloverland has plans to pull more of its fresh milk lines and add more ESL processing lines in the future. Given the space restrictions of the current Cloverland facility, expanding the plant’s footprint isn’t an option. So finding the right time to remove a fresh milk line and replace it has to happen when it is least likely to affect production and cause unnecessary downtime.

Cloverland’s focus on quality is further demonstrated by its commitment to using bioluminescent technology for microbiological testing.

“This provides accurate results in a timely manner, allowing us to get products into our customers’ hands faster. With the longer shelf life, we significantly reduce shrinkage at the retail level,” Cella explained. “By upgrading our pumps, valves and mixers, Cloverland ensures that they provide the best possible cream for our customers while maintaining the integrity and quality of all our dairy products.”

Cloverland Dairy’s dedication to manufacturing and producing quality products underscores its role as a trusted provider in the dairy industry.

“Whether it’s through our branded products found in our Royal Farms convenience stores, or our co-packing services, Cloverland remains committed to delivering excellence with every product,” Cella said.

Photo: Sosland Publishing Co.

Commitment to quality

Cloverland has been a trusted brand in the region for more than 100 years. This priceless and enviable reputation is, in no small part, because of its firm commitment to food safety and quality.

“For almost 15 years, Cloverland has been a fully certified SQF facility, and this culture is reflected in every aspect of our operation,” said Philip Forshlager, quality assurance director at Cloverland Dairy. “In December 2023, our analytical and micro lab was upgraded to a state-of-the-art certified facility that is staffed around the clock, providing support for operations and customers.”

Cloverland’s commitment to quality starts at the farm level. The company prides itself on using milk produced by local cows, with the mission that every cow in the Cloverland family is treated with respect. Licensed inspectors make sure of that, inspecting the dairy farms that serve as Cloverland’s partners, focusing on ensuring cleanliness, proper equipment function, milk temperature and quality control. According to the company, it constantly monitors the farms and the cows they work with to ensure that they are maintaining the highest standards possible, believing that better cows equal better milk.

Cloverland is a member of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and participates in the National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management. Cloverland Dairy is also an active member of the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association.

Forshlager noted that Cloverland Dairy’s production team also conducts in-house research and development.

“Cloverland’s quality culture is fully supported by management, and is continually communicated to every employee,” he said.

The company’s guiding principles include a focus on the value of teamwork, professional ethics, and the view that conduct is crucial to all aspects of the business, with a commitment to continuous improvement and development in all aspects of its employees’ work. The company also maintains a focus on safety by creating an environment that minimizes danger, risk and injury.

Cloverland Dairy has been family-owned since its inception, and its leadership emphasizes true commitment to fostering a supportive, family-like environment.

“Our employees are part of a family, and we value their support and dedication,” Cella said. “This has created a dedicated group that stays with us for the long haul, building our foundation for success.”

Cella thinks that a longstanding company culture is inspired by the realization that you work for the ownership, employees, customers, consumers and the community.

“When you realize this, it enables you to navigate long-term success,” he said.