Introducing a limited-edition flavor honoring Robert Lindner, Sr., a visionary leader and beloved leader of United Dairy Farmers (UDF). As the son of the original founder, Carl Lindner, Bob was there from the beginning, growing up in the business, attending Withrow High School, and dedicating his life to the Dairy.

Bob began his journey managing milk and ice cream production, later becoming a driving force in UDF’s research and development. He helped create iconic flavors, perfected UDF’s hot fudge, and developed the signature malt base that customers love today.

While others pursued new ventures, Bob remained devoted to UDF, his first love.

He led operations until his "proudest moment" when his sons joined and eventually oversaw the business. Even after passing the torch, Bob came into the office daily until the age of 100.

A man of deep faith and a passionate conservationist, Bob preserved thousands of acres of Colorado ranch land to protect it from development.

Robert Lindner, Sr. passed away in 2023 at the age of 101. His favorite treat? A Turtle Sundae with rich fudge and golden caramel. This special edition flavor is our tribute to a man who shaped UDF and left a legacy that will never be forgotten.

For 85 years, United Dairy Farmers has been known for quality ice cream, fresh dairy, and friendly neighborhood stores. Today, the company continues to grow while staying true to its entrepreneurial spirit. With the next generation of leadership, UDF is expanding in new directions, bringing fresh energy, innovation, and a commitment to the values that have made it a trusted name since 1940.

Whether it’s celebrating milestones with the community or creating new flavors to love, UDF ice cream remains at the heart of what we do. Here’s to the next 85 years of scoops, smiles, and shared traditions.

And what a past 100 years it has been! 

Robert’s father, Carl Lindner Sr. opened the first United Dairy Farmers in 1940. Robert and his siblings started their days at 4 a.m working long hours with their father by running milk routes and delivering eggs and poultry throughout Norwood, Ohio. As word of this little business grew, so did the company. Within a decade, the family-run business had grown to nine locations. As store expansion continued in the early 80’s, Robert took over UDF when Carl Sr. stepped down. Today, Robert’s son Brad runs the business.

We pride ourselves on being a family-owned company and, for over 80 years, the Lindner family has grown United Dairy Farmers to what it is today. Today, there are nearly 200 stores in 3 states and, as we continue to expand, we promise to bring new locations, products and ways to help you save.

Happy birthday to our founder, Robert Lindner! Mr. Lindner spend the day with his family- enjoying his favorite chocolate milkshake and a special cake delivered from a local Cincinnati bakery, Buskin Bakery. To share the celebration with the community he loves, UDF gave away Double Dip Ice Cream cones on his birthday in all stores – nearly 24,000 cones. May there be many more birthdays to come. 

Back in 1939, when UDF was born, milk was delivered to your house by your milkman in pint-size glass bottles. You paid for both the delivery service and the milk. Carl Lindner Sr. wanted to change that. He was going to open a store where you could go and buy your milk fresh, anytime you needed it and pay less for it. 

Everyone buys milk at a local store now. At that time it was a wild idea, and even a little controversial, which made getting UDF off the ground all the more challenging. Carl Sr. rolled up his sleeves and got to work. He employed his three sons to help build out what would become their first dairy plant and store. They purchased used equipment to process the milk and hand-built the cabinetry, shelves and signs for the storefront. He then began establishing relationships with dairy farmers in Milford and Goshen, convincing them to get on board his idea and allowing him to buy wholesale unprocessed milk. 

In a short time, UDF was up and running. They officially opened for business on May 8, 1940 and made a respectable sales total of $8 for the day. That’s not bad when you consider that the price of milk was only 28 cents a gallon. In comparison to delivery, it was a little less than half price. People were getting the same quality of milk and a much better deal. Word spread quickly and they began to grow. 

We were a business of essentials then, much like we are today. At the beginning, we sold milk, eggs, butter, cottage cheese and buttermilk.

Carl Sr.’s three sons and daughter, Carl Jr., Robert, Richard and Dorothy had been with him throughout it all. They handled business operations, marketing, and processing. They were young kids at the start and they grew up with the business. Now older, UDF’s new success gave Carl Jr. and Richard opportunities to take on other projects that had been born out of the original business. Robert stayed on and took the lead at UDF when Carl Sr. stepped back.

As we celebrate UDF’s birthday, this year also marks Robert’s 100th birthday. He still comes to the office every day, and enjoys a chocolate malt more than a few times a week. His son Brad took over the lead at UDF some years back. His dedication inspires us and reinforces our passion for the company. 

In its 80th year, UDF still carries the entrepreneurial spirit that it was built upon. The next generation of leadership is bringing its own set of values to the company that is inspiring growth in new directions.  As a community, we are now facing the challenges of COVID-19. Since the beginning we’ve seen ourselves as a company that provides an essential service to the community. We will continue to do that in the days ahead.   

To learn more about the United Dairy Farmers’ history, check back every month through the summer for new stories.