Texas is known for its strong agricultural sector. In fact, the Lone Star State has the most farms in the entire United States. Many of the local farms are focused on dairy. That’s why Texas is among the major states in terms of milk production. The large population of Texas is yet another reason why the sector is flourishing. Cities like San Antonio, Houston, and the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex area are rapidly growing as they attract a lot of people from other parts of the country. That’s why there are multiple wholesale dairy distributors across the state. In addition to specialized dairy distributors in Texas, broadliners also offer a wide selection of milk, cheese, butter, cream, and other dairy goods. In this post, we’ll shed some light on the Texas dairy sector and share information about some of the known dairy suppliers. If you wish to read more about different wholesale niche markets, check out our articles on wholesale bakeries in Dallas, seafood in Texas, and Dallas coffee roasters.
Key takeaway: Although many restaurant businesses prefer to purchase wholesale dairy from broadliners, there are multiple distributors that specialize in dairy products. Some grocery stores or businesses in the restaurant industry partner directly with dairy farms.
The Texas Dairy Industry
There are approximately 635 thousand dairy cows across Texas. That number has increased rapidly since 2010 when it was around 400 thousand. There are multiple factors why the Texas dairy sector is on the rise. Here are some of them.
- Lower costs. California is the leading dairy state in the country. However, land and animal feed costs there have increased substantially. This makes the Texas dairy industry more competitive;
- Rising consumption and export. The growing population of the Lone Star State means there’s a bigger consumption of milk and other dairy products. Furthermore, Texas dairy farms have increased their export in recent years.
- Infrastructure and business climate. Texas has a more business-friendly policy compared to other states. Combined with a well-developed transportation network, this has helped dairy distributors in Texas and allowed the state’s dairy sector to grow.
The dairy industry has changed significantly in the last decades. Nowadays, dairy farms use a variety of technological solutions that help them increase outputs, reduce waste, and improve efficiency. A lot of business owners invest in modern equipment in order to become more competitive and scale their business. However, it’s important to know that technology in the dairy sector is not only available for processes like automated milking or using drones and GPS systems in farming. Instead, dairy businesses can use technology to observe the latest market trends, sell directly to consumers and businesses via modern eCommerce solutions, or advertise their products.
Buying from Dairy Distributors in Texas VS Broadliners
Generally speaking, companies have two choices when it comes to wholesale dairy. They can either partner with broadline food distributors in Dallas or they can choose a specialized dairy supplier. Purchasing from broadliners is often convenient as they sell a variety of wholesale products. This allows the business to purchase not only dairy goods, but also different types of meat, produce, staple ingredients, seafood, beverages, and products in other categories. Here are the reasons why a lot of businesses choose to partner with specialized dairy distributors in Texas:
- They are more knowledgeable about their products;
- These suppliers are more locally focused which is especially important for Texans;
- Dairy wholesalers can offer consultations regarding the products and their applications;
Major Dairy Distributors in Texas
A lot of restaurant managers and other businesses choose major broadline distributors like Sysco and US Foods for their dairy needs. Allow us to share a few alternatives when it comes to dairy distributors in Texas.
Hill Country Dairies
The wide variety of products offered has made Hill Country Dairies one of the major dairy distributors in Texas. From different types of yogurt, cheeses, and butter to a selection of cream and milk products, the company can offer bulk deliveries to institutions, restaurants, retailers, and businesses in the hotel industry.
Known for: Its history of around 50 years of being a reliable dairy supplier in Texas and the variety of products offered.
Hiland Dairy
The company has multiple dairy plants across Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, and Arkansas. Hiland Dairy is one of the largest dairy distributors in Texas and the country as a whole. The company operates three major facilities in Texas. Hiland Dairy offers a vast selection of dairy products. Furthermore, the company aims to maximize profits by selling goods in other categories such as tea, juice, and dairy-free alternatives.
Known for: Being one of the biggest US dairy companies.
1836 Farms
The company is primarily focused on the production and packaging of different types of milk. 1836 Farms also offers seasonal dairy products such as pumpkin spice eggnog and mint chocolate milk. The main customers of 1836 Farms are grocery stores. What’s typical about the company is that they offer their products in the old-fashioned way – in glass bottles. That’s part of their efforts to be a sustainable supplier.
Known for: The variety of milk products offered in glass bottles.
Oak Farms
The roots of the company can be traced back to 1908. Nowadays, Oak Farms is known as a major supplier of different types of milk in various sizes. The company also offers cream, buttermilk, eggnog, and other dairy products. Oak Farms combines the efforts of multiple farm families to offer local communities nothing less than quality milk at wholesale prices.
Known for: Combining multiple dairy farms and offering various types of milk products.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dairy Distributors in Texas
From tips to increase wholesale sales to a list of well-known Dallas meat distributors, there are multiple useful articles across BlueCart. Below we have answered some common questions regarding dairy distributors in Texas and the overall dairy industry in the Lone Star State.
What Products Do Texas Dairy Distributors Sell?
Naturally, milk is the main product sold by dairy distributors in Texas. However, the products offered by these suppliers might differ a lot based on their business model.
- Full-scale dairy distributors. These wholesalers offer a variety of dairy products to restaurants, institutions, grocery stores, and other businesses. They sell milk, cheese, butter, and specialty products like plant-based milk and dairy-free yogurt alternatives.
- Dairy farms. They focus on sales of their own milk. Some dairy farms also have processing capabilities and are able to package milk or produce butter or flavored milk.
- Milk suppliers. They act as intermediaries between dairy farms and dairy manufacturers.
What Are the Trends in the Dairy Industry?
One of the goals of dairy farms is to become more sustainable. That will allow them to better manage natural resources and be more efficient. A growing number of customers choose products and services based on their impact on the environment. Thus, it’s becoming increasingly important for the Texas dairy sector to focus on eco-friendly practices, efficiency, and sustainability.
The dairy sector is also adapting to the increased demand for lactose-free dairy products. A growing number of distributors and manufacturers have started offering such alternatives.
What Other States Have a Well-Developed Dairy Industry?
California and Wisconsin are the biggest producers of milk in the country. These two states combined account for nearly a third of all the milk produced in the US. Other states that have well-developed dairy sectors include Idaho and New York. Compared to the other states, Texas ranks fifth in terms of milk production according to data from 2019.
There are a lot of imported dairy products as well. France and Italy are known for their cheeses and other dairy products. The demand for artisan cheeses and other specialty dairy products has increased in recent years which has led to increased import of these goods.
BlueCart: The All-in-One Tool for Dairy Distributors in Texas
Whether you specialize in B2B sales of milk or the goal of your business is to offer a wide selection of dairy products, BlueCart can help you. Our software assists businesses in finding suppliers and helps distributors to automate various processes. Schedule a free demo today and find out why BlueCart is the right solution for dairy wholesale and distribution.