Through the Years

1935 On October 1, the Cass-Clay Cooperative Creamery opens for business in its new plant, located at the Northern Pacific Railway tracks and 9th Street in Moorhead, Minnesota. Festivities include an open house, speeches by dignitaries, and a tap dance demonstration by a Miss Marjorie Fuller of Moorhead.

1937 Emil Mattson steps down as general manager, to be replaced by Ludwig Thompson and later by Ludwig's brother Joe.

1939 At their annual meeting, Cass-Clay directors report a 20% growth in business during the previous year. They vote a dividend of $80,000, which they plan to use for construction of a new building just south of the original plant.

1940 Work on the new building gets underway in June, as the T.F. Powers Construction Company begins excavating a site at 1st Avenue and 9th Street South in Moorhead. Business volume increases 10% over the previous year.

1941 In January, Cass-Clay moves into its new $80,000 building, which is used to manufacture bottled milk and other milk products, including ice cream. The old building, on the same lot, continues to be used for the processing of other creamery products. Charles Ommodt, one of the men initially responsible for bringing Cass-Clay into existence, is hired as general manager, a position he will hold for twenty-one years.

1948 Cass-Clay grosses a record $2.5 million in 1947, an increase of 10% over 1946.

1949 Considered one of the most successful creameries in the entire northwest, Cass-Clay employs 115 local workers and has an annual payroll of $400,000. Member/owners now number 2,628, most of them farmers living in Cass and Clay counties.

1952 Cass-Clay becomes the first creamery in the United States to produce canned whole milk with the Winger Process. Plans call for the canned milk to be sent to the armed forces and areas low in milk production, such as Alaska, Hawaii, Panama and South America.

1953 The board votes to construct a new plant in Fargo at an estimated cost of $585,000. In recommending the move, General Manager Charles Ommodt cites North Dakota's tax advantages and the fact that 75% of Cass-Clay's business is in deliveries to Fargo. Sales for 1953 are estimated at $4,500,000, with a payroll of $450,000. The 1953 payroll is three times greater than Cass-Clay's entire sales volume in 1935, the first year of operation.

1954 In June, preliminary plans are unveiled for the proposed Fargo plant, now estimated to cost $860,000.

1955 A new location at 21st Street and 3rd Avenue North in the Fargo industrial area is purchased in March from the Manchester Biscuit Company for approximately $35,000. Ground-breaking takes place on June 30; by December, Cass-Clay begins partial operation at its new plant.

1956 During 1956-1957 glass bottles for milk and cream are phased out and replaced by paper cartons.

1957 The move from Moorhead into the new $1.5 million, 65,000 square-foot Fargo facility is completed in April. The Moorhead building today houses Arvid Benson Furniture and Appliance. 1957 production volume is up 20% over the previous year.

1961 Gross sales total nearly $11 million and gross profit $2,844,807. Almost $8 million is paid to farmers for their dairy products; labor receives $880,000.

1962 After 21 years, Charles Ommodt retires as general manager.

1963 Cass-Clay begins marketing NRG, a plain or chocolate-flavored milk packaged in special bottles and sold in vending machines at prices competitive with soft drinks.

1965 The retail price for a half-gallon of Cass-Clay milk is 47 cents.

1969 Cass-Clay reports its largest sales volume ever, with returns totaling more than $13 million -- an increase of $2.2 million over the previous year.

1969 Foremost Dairy of Mandan purchased.

1973 Carlson Dairy of Alexandria is purchased.

1973 Golden Cream Dairy of Morris is purchased.

1974 The Barnes Cooperative Creamery at Valley City, founded in 1930, is purchased in January by Cass-Clay.

1975 Celebrating its 40th year in business, Cass-Clay cites its employee payroll as a hallmark of its growth. The total paid to 165 Fargo-Moorhead employees is $1,529,600.

1976 Cass-Clay employs 11 door-to-door deliverymen serving approximately 4,700 households in Fargo-Moorhead, West Fargo and Horace in North Dakota, and Dilworth, Minnesota. Dairy drivers earn between $11,000 and $14,000 yearly, depending on basic salaries and sales commissions.

1978 Dakota Gold Dairy of Rugby is purchased. Cass-Clay is now operating plants in Fargo-Moorhead, Mandan, Grand Forks, and Rugby, North Dakota, and Aberdeen, South Dakota, with annual sales totaling $36.5 million.

1979 Minnesota Dairy of Grand Forks is purchased.

1980 On September 29, it's announced that Cass-Clay has purchased the dairy plant of Fairmont Foods in Moorhead, Minnesota. Fairmont began operations in 1923, and at one point had 400 employees.

1981 The company is operating 30 branch plants in three states; net sales are $72 million, an increase of $10 million over the previous year.

1983 Cass-Clay purchased Country Boy Dairy of Jamestown, North Dakota.

1984 Cass-Clay took over the Mid-Am Milk Distribution in Fargo, North Dakota, Moorhead, Fergus Falls, and Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

1985 In keeping with the nationwide trend toward healthier, lowfat dairy products, Cass-Clay introduces Calci-Skim, a calcium-fortified skim milk.

1987 The Hoven, South Dakota, facility purchased in 1985 is remodeled to process 1.1 million pounds of milk per day into romano, parmesan and other specialty cheeses.

1989 In September, Cass-Clay expands into Williston, North Dakota, opening a distribution center to handle a full line of products.

1993 Cass-Clay's orange juice operation is expanded with the installation of a new and larger tank at the Fargo plant, allowing the purchase of orange juice in concentrated tankerload bulk form.

1995 Cass-Clay celebrates its 60th anniversary, commemorating its founders in a 20-page, full-color book which recalls the history of the company and its accomplishments.

1996 Cass-Clay rolls out the new Sunburst design for packaging and consumers respond with great enthusiasm.

1999 A $2.7 million remodeling of the Fargo plant includes larger, higher-speed milk bottling equipment, new cottage cheese vats and fillers, a new cooler, and updated loading facilities.

2000 All new hardware and software computer equipment is installed.

2002 Cass-Clay introduces the revolutionary new EZ Grip 97 oz. Milk container. Designed by Cass-Clay, this container makes pouring easier for people with any sized hands. In addition, the design provides smooth, “no glug-glug-glug” pouring.

2003 Cass-Clay becomes the proud Official Dairy of the Minnesota Vikings. Cass-Clay begins selling ice cream products at all Metrodome (Minneapolis) events.

2004 The new "Scrounds" design ice cream cartons are introduced. This consumer-friendly container allows for easier scoping to assure getting all the creamy ice cream from the edges.

2005 Cass-Clay begins selling ice cream at the Excel Energy Center (event center in St. Paul).

2007 Cass-Clay Creamery is acquired by Associated Milk Producers, Inc. (AMPI), a leading dairy cooperative in the Midwest. Former Cass-Clay milk producers are now owners in AMPI. With this acquisition, AMPI has more than 4,000 dairy farmer-owners, operates 15 plants and annually markets more than $1 billion of dairy products regionally and nationally.

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