By Kate Bartlett
Wells Enterprises recently announced the company will be expanding to create over 200 jobs in the Dunkirk community. The Dunkirk manufacturing facility plays an important role in the expansion plans for its Blue Bunny, Halo Top, Bomb Pop and Blue Ribbon Classics brands.
The expansion is expected to more than double the facility’s current production output and help support the company’s continued plans growth in the ice cream industry.
The Dunkirk facility has been a vital part of the Dunkirk community ever since its founding in 1914 by William J. Wells as “Dunkirk Ice Cream.” It was family-owned and operated for four generations, until 1996 when it was purchased by a group of investors and renamed Fieldbrook Foods. Wells Enterprises (no relation to the original founder) purchased the Fieldbrook Foods company in April 2019, and just recently announced plans for significant expansion at the site.
Wells Enterprises Inc. is the largest privately held ice cream manufacturer in the United States. Founded in 1913 by Fred H. Wells and run by the Wells family for generations, the company produces more than 200 million gallons of ice cream per year and distributes products in all 50 states. The company is headquartered in Le Mars, Iowa, also known as the “Ice Cream Capital of the World” with the largest manufacturer of ice cream in one location. Wells operates two manufacturing plants in Le Mars, a manufacturing plant in Dunkirk, New York, and a manufacturing facility in Henderson, Nevada.
“We are extremely excited to build on the strength of our team in Dunkirk and continue to work with the community to grow and expand our operations here. The investment in Dunkirk illustrates our passion to provide high-quality premium ice cream products that bring joy to consumers around the world. The planned expansion also reinforces our dedication to our team, consumers, and the community as a critical part of the long-term future of our company,” said Liam Killeen, CEO of Wells Enterprises.
Construction is planned to begin in the fall of 2023, with official groundbreaking in early 2024 with anticipated completion by late 2025.