Established 1982 with a vision
Welcome to Milkco!
We feel that you will enjoy partnering of one of the fastest-growing dairy companies in the southeastern U.S.. We take pride in being part of the food industry and setting the pace with quality products and first class customer service.
MILKCO’S HISTORY
Milk and milk products have played an important role in American history since the first cows were brought to Jamestown, Virginia in 1611.
In the 1950’s there were 22 milk-bottling plants in Western North Carolina. Sealtest moved to their newly built West Asheville facility in 1965. On September 7, 1982, this facility became Milkco Inc. and today is the only dairy plant in western North Carolina.
Milkco’s first president Ralph Gardner had a vision for the company’s future which included focusing on the warehouse/distribution business. This new concept would not be primarily delivery routes. Milkco’s bold decision required shipping in corrugated boxes instead of the industry standard milk crates. The wisdom of this innovation allowed expansion into additional markets. Innovation has become a way of life at Milkco. Numerous operational changes and technological advances have made Milkco a “unique” operation.
The Production operation has moved from fluid milk only to also include organic products, fruit juices, drinks and water in various size containers.
1993 was the beginning of development on a custom Dairy Management System (DMS). This system has been refined for the past twenty two years to improve Milkco’s every changing operation .
In 1999, a state of the art computer process controls system was added for all production. Milkco partnered with an engineering firm to develop a first in the nation prototype system keeping residual milk out of the waste water stream. This updated technology assures improved product quality and the ability to meet our customer’s future needs.
Expansion and growth was and is necessary to meet our commitments to the growing list of business partners, providing them with their own private label products, extended product shelf life, and the ability to “order today and receive tomorrow”, the best dairy products with the best product codes in the industry.
The size of the plant has grown from 45,000 square feet to over 145,000 square feet. This growth included addition of blow molding operations, multiple expansions of the shipping cooler, new production lines, new supply warehouse, office areas, jug storage areas, trailer wash dock, refrigeration facility, new raw milk receiving bays, and a fully equipped laboratory to name a few.
Most of the raw milk supply comes from within a 150 mile radius of Milkco’s facility and when ready finished product ships throughout the Southeast. Continuing to invest in equipment and processes keeps Milkco current to the ever-changing technology in the dairy industry.
Milkco
We are at the same location and we operate with our founding principles, but this is not the same operation that was founded in 1982.
We work daily to improve our quality, efficiency, and customer service.