Tillamook to open ice cream manufacturing facility in Illinois

Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) has announced plans to open an ice cream manufacturing facility in Decatur, Illinois, in late 2024.

The plant will be TCCA’s only facility solely dedicated to ice cream production – the dairy coop also owns and operates two cheese manufacturing facilities in Oregon, where the company is headquartered.

The Decatur ice cream plant will manufacture Tillamook family-size (48oz) and food service (3 gallon) ice cream.

Mike Bever, EVP of operations, TCCA, said: “Consumer demand for Tillamook Ice Cream has grown exponentially over the past several years. This new facility is an investment in our continued national expansion plans. We are proud to be able to expand our manufacturing footprint even further as another step toward bringing Tillamook to more fans around the country.”

He continued: “Opening this Illinois manufacturing location will enable us to make more of our ice cream closer to the eastern US, where demand for our ice cream is growing fast…Ultimately our continued growth…allows us to continue to generate meaningful profits for our farmer-owners, create growth and well-being opportunities for our 900+ employees and to give back to the communities where we live and work.”

The new plant was previously owned by Prairie Farms, who use the facility for ice cream production until closing the site in early 2022. TCCA plans to spend the next 18-24 months updating the plant to TCCA’s manufacturing standards and expects production to begin in October 2024.

The facility is expected to create around 45 jobs in Decatur and the company’s existing manufacturing operations in Tillamook and Boardman, Oregon, will continue to operate with no plans to reduce production or employees at either location.