Purity Dairies facts for kids
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Formerly
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Ezell's Dairy (1926–46) |
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Dairy |
| Fate | Acquired by Dairy Farmers of America |
| Founded | 1926 |
| Founder | Miles Ezell |
| Headquarters | Nashville, Tennessee, United States |
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Key people
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Mark Ezell, president |
| Products | Milk, sour cream, cheese, butter, ice cream, juices, bottled water |
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Number of employees
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500+ |
| Parent | Dairy Farmers of America |
Purity Dairies is a well-known dairy company based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. It was once called Ezell's Dairy. The Ezell family has run the company for many years. Purity Dairies sells its products across Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky.
Today, Purity Dairies is part of Dairy Farmers of America. They make many different products. These include milk, sour cream, cheese, butter, ice cream, and juices. They also sell bottled water. Purity Dairies is one of the few places that still sells the Nutty Buddy ice cream cone.
Contents
The Story of Purity Dairies
How It All Started
The company began in 1926. A man named Miles Ezell rented a dairy farm from Dr. C.N. Cowden. After a year, Ezell bought the farm. He named it Ezell's Dairy.
In the 1940s, many small dairies had to close. This was because new rules required milk to be pasteurized. Pasteurization is a process that heats milk to kill harmful germs. Ezell's Dairy was one of the few that managed to stay open.
Becoming Purity Dairies
In 1945, the farm closed for a short time. But Miles Ezell got a small business loan. He bought a milk plant and joined with another company called Rosebank Dairies. In 1946, the company officially became "Purity Dairies."
Albert Gasser joined as President. He helped Purity Dairies become the main milk producer in middle Tennessee.
New Ideas and Famous Ads
Purity Dairies was known for trying new things. They were one of the first to use special filters. These filters helped keep their cottage cheese fresh for longer. They also used wax-free paper and opaque (not see-through) containers for milk.
The company was also famous for its fun advertisements. They hired actor Jim Varney. He played a funny character named Ernest P. Worrell. Ernest became very popular in their ads. These ads helped Purity Dairies sell more products.
Growing the Business
In the mid-1950s, Purity Dairies started a sales team. At first, it was just one person. But over time, more sales people joined. They helped the company sell its products to more stores.
In the late 1980s, Purity Dairies worked with Blue Bell Creameries. They created a new ice cream. This ice cream quickly became the best-selling one in the area.
Changes in Ownership
In 1998, a company called Dean Foods bought Purity Dairies. Even after this, members of the Ezell family still helped manage the company.
Later, in 2020, Purity Dairies was bought by Dairy Farmers of America. It continues to operate as part of this larger dairy group.
