HISTORY
On March 11th Quality Dairy Celebrated Our 85th Year Serving Mid-Michigan!
Quality Dairy Company was founded in March 1936 by Gregory J. Martin and Harvey Mack. The first store was located at 1406 South Washington Avenue. At the time, milk was most commonly obtained by home delivery. The original company mission included providing bottled milk on a cash and carry basis from small neighborhood milk stores. The price of milk at the time was seven cents a quart.
In 1940, Quality Dairy Company started producing, distributing, and selling ice cream. Quality Dairy stores also began to sell candy and gum around the same time. Since then, the stores have greatly expanded the offering of grocery items, adding cereals, soups, canned vegetables and fruits, snacks and more, along with a selection of meat, cheese and frozen food items not typically found outside the major grocery stores. Dipped ice cream was added in 1969.
In 1955, Quality Dairy Company’s ownership changed. Harvey Mack sold out to Mr. Martin who brought in 3 additional owners shortly thereafter.
Currently Quality Dairy Company operates 27 stores throughout Greater Lansing. All but two locations sell beer and wine and sixteen locations sell packaged liquor. Eight locations offer gasoline and six stores have Laundromats.
In addition to our retail stores, Quality Dairy Company operate QD Central – QD’s Production and Distribution hub for all of their Bakery, Deli, and Dairy products.
1936
March 11th, 1936
Quality Dairy Company founded...
by Gregory J & Pauline Martin and Harvey & Mildrid Mack with an initial investment of $600. They worked out of a small facility in the 1400 block of South Washington Ave. in Lansing. The original QD Stores were small and sold milk on a cash and carry basis. Prior to QD’s stores, milk was commonly delivered directly to homes by a milk man.
Quality Dairy begins producing their always creamy sour cream, which is now known as Lansing’s best sour cream!
1936
1938
Quality Dairy’s First Store opened at the Corner of Main Street & South Pennsylvania, in Lansing.
Quality Dairy’s stores changed the way that Lansing got their dairy products. The milk jugs shown above were the ones used by Quality Dairy in those early years. The bottles were filled with fresh milk daily. Customers would return the empty bottles and pick-up full bottles at their convenience – No more waiting for the milkman to deliver your milk.
Quality Dairy introduces their glorious Egg Nog which has now become a traditional holiday treat throughout Greater Lansing for over 80 years!
1939
1940
Quality Dairy begins producing their Famous Premium Ice Creams.
Quality Dairy becomes a solely owned family business as the Martin's purchase Harvey Mack's share of the business. Though they have seen tremendous growth through the years, QD has remained a family-owned business through the present day.
1955
1956
Quality Dairy introduces Lansing to QD Classic French Onion Chip Dip!
...and the people of Lansing are
still hooked to this very day!
QD begins producing fresh bakery goods for all of their, at the time, 13 Lansing area stores.
1968
Hand-Dipped Quality Dairy Ice Cream available at all Quality Dairy’s Stores!
1969
Quality Dairy Innovation: “Bagged Milk”
In 1969, becoming known for their innovation in the dairy industry, Quality Dairy introduced their Bagged Milk Pitcher Packs. QD’s Alan Martin & Bob Vanderstow were responsible for bringing bag milk to Lansing. Though the idea originally came from Canada, QD was the first to sell bagged milk here in the United States. QD originally sold their bags of milk in quarts that resembled a small pillow. They soon added half gallons as the new form of milk sales caught on in Lansing. QD’s bagged milk was discontinued in 2000, but many long-time Lansing residents still talk about it fondly.
Quality Dairy experiences a “Great Expansion” - adding 1 1 QD Stores from 1971 - 1979!
Quality Dairy expands it’s Greater Lansing footprint by adding stores in Lansing, Haslett, East Lansing, Holt, Eaton Rapids, & Dimondale.
1970's
1971
Quality Dairy Adds Their First Fuel Store at the Corner of S. Waverly & Jolly Road.
Quality Dairy Adds Their Second Fuel Store at the Corner of S. Logan (now Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.) & Miller Road in South Lansing.
1974
1976
Quality Dairy expands their bakery facility.
Due to rapid expansion & increasing demand for their fresh bakery products, Quality Dairy’s bakery facility moves into a larger location at the New Downtown Lansing – East Saginaw Ave. QD Store.
Quality Dairy Opens First Laundromat Store & Third Fuel Store in the small town of Eaton Rapids just minutes south of Lansing.
1977
1979
MSU Wins Nat’l Championship in Men’s Basketball - Led by a Famous Former QD Staffer!
1979 was a Big Year in East Lansing and Quality Dairy joined the celebration as one of their former employees won an NCAA Basketball Championship at MSU. Ervin “Magic” Johnson worked at Quality Dairy as one of his first jobs and developed a close relationship with then QD CEO Stanley Martin.
Quality Dairy Cider Starts A Pourin’ in Lansing!
The Downtown Lansing (East Saginaw Avenue) location becomes the home of Lansing’s Only Cider Mill. A portable cider press is set up in the parking lot, giving visitors the chance to watch as their cider was made, and QD’s long standing Lansing Tradition of “Cider’s -a- Pourin'” was born!
1981
1980's
Quality Dairy Continues Their Rapid Expansion Through the 1980’s - Adding 7 More Stores by 1987.
Quality Dairy begins production of their own plastic bottles & jugs.
Quality Dairy formed it’s QDC Plastics division to produce all of their own plastic bottles and jugs. The 20,000+ sq ft blow-mold facility added over 50 jobs to the Lansing economy and reduced QD’s production costs for their many different types of beverages. Over the next several years QDC started supplying many other dairies and beverage packaging facilities throughout the Midwest.
1986
1988
It’s Paczki Time! A Tradition Begins!
Quality Dairy Bakery introduces Lansing to “Paczki”, a polish pastry, initially made popular in the U.S. by Polish immigrants in the Detroit suburb of Hamtramck. QD’s Paczki popularity continues to grow to this day. QD produces over 150,000 Paczki for Lansing area residents for the 10-12 days before Ash Wednesday each year.
QD Adds a Brand New Bakery Plant as the demand for their Fresh Bakery Products continues to grow.
Quality Dairy formed it’s QDC Plastics division to produce all of their own plastic bottles and jugs. The 20,000+ sq ft blow-mold facility added over 50 jobs to the Lansing economy and reduced QD’s production costs for their many different types of beverages. Over the next several years QDC started supplying many other dairies and beverage packaging facilities throughout the Midwest.
2000
2011
Quality Dairy introduced the QD Card Rewards Program to say “Thank You” to their many long-time loyal QD Customers.
Quality Dairy Bakery Plant Renamed “QD Central” Becoming the Central Distribution Hub for All Quality Dairy Bakery, Dairy, Deli and Party Planning/Catering Products.
QD’s Holt Location Reopens as the New Flagship Store – showcasing the future of Quality Dairy Stores!
Along with an updated modern look this Newest QD Store features a drive-thru window, ice cold beer cave cooler, state-of-the-art kitchen, high-end self-serve cappuccino machine, extensive ice cream topping bar, outdoor patio as well as indoor seating, & HD digital video signage.
2000
2020
QD Introduces the QD Mobile App & Expands Quick Delivery & Pick-up Services to All Stores.
Quality Dairy Bakery introduces Lansing to “Paczki”, a polish pastry, initially made popular in the U.S. by Polish immigrantsin the Detroit suburb of Hamtramck. QD’s Paczki popularity continues to grow to this day. QD produces over 150,000 Paczki for Lansing area residents for the 10-12 days before Ash Wednesday each year.
QD Rebrands Fuel at Seven QD Stores Through a Partnership with ExxonMobil to Offer a Better Fuel Solution for QD Customers.
QD ExxonMobil Fuel launched at 7 of QD’s fuel stores during the months of October and November. Along with the fuel upgrades came facade improvements, new fuel pumps, and LED lighting for enhanced visibility. The upgraded pumps also made contactless payment available to all customers with a smart phone. Contactless payment was an important addition to offer QD’s customers a safer way to pay during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The addition of ExxonMobil’s Synergy gasoline provided QD’s customers with better gas mileage, lower emissions, improved engine protection, & better overall performance. The partnership also allows QD’s customers to utilize ExxonMobil’s Rewards card at a network of over 11,000 ExxonMobil Stations nationwide.
QD Stores Receive Facade Upgrades to Enhance Brand Image within the Community
Quality Dairy stores exteriors receive an image boost with a more modern looking facade, better lighting, and a 3D Backlit QD Logo. The exterior walls were painted in a classic medium grey to contrast the overhead bright white facade with red 3D lettering and the backlit QD Logo. The new clean image pops and grabs the attention of potential customers driving by, especially at night when the new LED Lighting makes the stores seem to glow!
