Additional Coverage:
- Think Walmart Makes Its Great Value Products? Think Again — There Are Much Bigger Brand Behind It (marketrealist.com)
The Sweet Truth: Who’s Really Churning Out Walmart’s Great Value Ice Cream?
For many local shoppers, Walmart’s Great Value ice cream is a go-to for affordable, tasty frozen treats. But here’s a scoop you might not have heard: the retail giant isn’t actually making that beloved dessert itself. Behind the budget-friendly label lies a much larger, well-established player in the ice cream world.
Just as other major brands like Sara Lee and Kellogg’s produce Great Value breads and cereals, the ice cream comes from Wells Enterprises, formerly known as Wells Dairy. While the name might not be on the tip of your tongue, this Iowa-based company, hailing from Le Mars – famously dubbed the “Ice Cream Capital of the World” – is a powerhouse in the industry. Established in 1913 as a milk delivery service, Wells began churning ice cream in 1925 and has since grown to create frozen delights for popular brands including Blue Bunny, Halo Top, Bomb Pop, and Blue Ribbon Classics.
Wells Enterprises boasts an impressive operation, with a massive 900,000-square-foot plant in Le Mars featuring a 12-story-tall freezer. Another equally large manufacturing unit operates in New York. Together, these facilities produce over 150 million gallons of ice cream annually, ensuring a steady supply of Great Value products that remain both accessible and affordable for customers.
The long-standing collaboration between Walmart and Wells Enterprises began when Walmart started stocking Wells’ Blue Bunny ice cream line. This successful partnership evolved into Wells agreeing to produce ice cream specifically for Walmart’s Great Value brand.
This strategic move, now nearly four decades strong, has proven mutually beneficial, explaining the consistent quality and reasonable pricing shoppers have come to expect. Walmart emphasizes a rigorous quality control process, with teams testing hundreds of samples before final production, and its Culinary and Innovation Center continuously develops new flavors and add-ons to enhance the ice cream experience.
For those curious about the magic behind the frosty treats, Wells Enterprises operates a visitor center in Le Mars. Tourists can explore the facility, sample over 40 different ice cream flavors, and even observe the daily manufacturing process, offering a delightful treat for both the eyes and the taste buds.