Hoffmann Family of Companies, Winnetka, Illinois, acquired Cedar Crest Ice Cream.
Hoffmann Family of Companies also owns Oberweis Dairy. As part of the transaction, Renato DePaolis, CEO of Oberweis Dairy, will assume leadership of Cedar Crest.
“It’s not lost on me that Cedar Crest is a 50-year-old brand and Oberweis is approaching its 100th anniversary serving Midwest communities and families,” said DePaolis. “Together, we represent more than 150 years of rich ice cream history, which is a legacy that is both meaningful and worth celebrating as we look to the future.”
Led for more than 50 years by the Kohlwey brothers — Ken, Robert, Bill, and Tim — the business will remain in family stewardship through the Hoffmann family.
“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built,” said Ken Kohlwey. “My brothers and I wouldn’t hand over the reins to just anyone. When we saw what the Hoffmann family has accomplished with Oberweis in such a short time, we knew we could trust them to continue to grow our beloved business as we enter the sweetest chapter in our lives: Retirement.”
Founded in 1976 and headquartered in Cedarburg, Cedar Crest has a manufacturing plant and the Cedar Crest Ice Cream Parlor in Manitowoc.
Cedar Crest offers more than 80 ice cream flavors, 10 custard varieties, six sherbets, and three dairy-free sorbets.
HF Companies will continue to operate Cedar Crest and Oberweis as distinct brands under its broader portfolio. For more information, please visit their respective websites: cedarcresticecream.com and oberweis.com.
