Toft Dairy's fresh, flavorful additions

SANDUSKY — The numbers help define what's new at one of Sandusky's most respected businesses. Toft Dairy just introduced seven fresh ice cream flavors, three of which feature unique trademarking. But the management team based in Sandusky underscored a single figure, in particular, to hammer home an important message. "Toft's has become locally famous for its 'one quality' philosophy, which means Toft's uses only the finest ingredients to produce the highest quality products," according to a company statement. Company officials underscored how they incorporated this very mentality — first established in 1900 when Toft's opened, making it the oldest operating dairy in Ohio — into their latest menu items. The wait for new tastes During the past few weeks, and ahead of its peak parlor period across spring and summer, Toft's began rolling out new ice cream flavors. This marks the first time in more than four years, dating back to 2020, since Toft's unveiled different taste options. So why such a long gap between new offerings? Chalk it up to COVID-19-related factors and then a full-on company-wide rebranding. Like many businesses, Toft's experienced supply chain management issues in getting products delivered in a timely and full fashion to its Sandusky headquarters along with partners and stores. Then, when those matters subsided, a manufacturer discontinued production of half-gallon containers Toft's used to package ice cream for years. So after finding a new supplier, which helped Toft's streamline some processes, company officials timed this up by refreshing the company's overall look on their new 48-ounce containers sold in stores. Many elements found on packaging, such as the font spelling out Toft's and its mascot, Tilly, remained during this transition. "We did all of this to try to keep costs down for the consumer," Toft's assistant vice president Logan Meisler said. "But it's still the same great taste our customers know us for. During COVID, our focus was keeping what he had, but we have wanted to have new flavors for a long time now, and now we do." Sampling the flavors If customers visit Toft's parlor on Venice Road (U.S. 6) in Sandusky, they can choose any of the 51 available flavors. People can also find up to 41 of these options sold in stores. Many of these flavors can be bought at places serving Toft's, such as area ice cream stands and even professional sports venues. Here's the scoop on these seven new flavors with their descriptions: • Cold Brew Caramel Latte — cold brew coffee ice cream with caramel espresso swirls • Strawberry Cheesecake — cheesecake-flavored ice cream with strawberry swirls • Bananas Foster — banana-flavored ice cream with caramelized brown sugar and rum-flavored swirls • Peanut Butter 'n Cookies — peanut butter ice cream with cream-filled chocolate cookies • Vanilla Tilly Tracks — vanilla-flavored ice cream with thick fudge swirls and peanut butter-filled chocolate cows • Chocolate Tilly Tracks — chocolate ice cream with thick fudge swirls and peanut butter-filled chocolate cows • Peanut Butter Tilly Tracks — peanut butter ice cream with thick fudge swirls and peanut butter-filled chocolate cows The Strawberry Cheesecake and Vanilla Tilly Tracks flavors, meanwhile, are also available in pint-size containers. Meisler explained how the Toft's team came to choose these new flavors. "Our ingredient suppliers help us with letting us know what they have seen in their order patterns and what flavors are trending right now," he said. "We knew we were lacking in offering something in banana, and coffee is a booming flavor right now. So it was important to us to offer that." Regarding the Tilly Tracks flavors, they replace Moose Tracks, a popular option Toft's recently stopped serving as part of its rebranding efforts. "Tilly Tracks is essentially the same flavor concept," Meisler said. "Instead of peanut butter cups, we bought our own mold for the peanut butter-filled cows, and those are exclusive to us. No one else can have that." It seems to be quite popular among customers. "People are liking the (Tilly Tracks) flavors just as much, maybe more, than Moose Tracks," said Glen Bango, Toft's general manager at its parlor. "It's been a great response." The new Tilly Tracks branding also helps highlight Toft's mascot on packaging for these flavors. It helps pay homage to Toft's roots: Tilly's a nod to Matilda "Tilly" Toft, who founded the business with her husband, Chris, back in 1900. "Tilly was the name of our first Toft cow. Tilly has been our mascot forever," Meisler said. "But, now, we are really putting her out there at the forefront of our packaging. I'm very proud of the Tilly Tracks." History lesson Toft Dairy provided the following statement to summarize its long and storied history in Sandusky: We have been making our one-quality products through five generations of family in Sandusky, Ohio, since 1900. This achievement makes us Ohio's oldest dairy. We source our fresh milk and real cream from family farms to create our unique creamy taste that is remembered and loved. Thirteen local dairy farms within a 50-mile radius deliver fresh raw milk to our Sandusky plant 365 days a year. Toft's has received written pledges from all 13 dairy farms to refrain from using the synthetic growth hormone rBST in their production of milk. These daily deliveries allow us to produce the freshest milk and finest ice cream possible, all backed by the National Dairy Farm program, which sets the standards for animal care. Here's a timeline of how we got here: • 1900 — Chris and Matilda "Tilly" Toft began selling raw milk out of glass bottles from a horsedrawn wagon to the local citizens of Sandusky. This was the creation of Toft Dairy as we know it. • 1935 — Toft Dairy purchased Oswald Dairy, also located in Sandusky. This decision grew their reputation throughout the region, leading to wholesale and retail routes and sparking the foundation for business growth for the future. • 1940 — Toft Dairy moved to a new facility on Adams Street that was much larger with growth capabilities. Toft's founded its original recipe of high-quality ice cream production in this facility. Toft's first-ever retail store opened in this location complete with an old-time soda fountain. • 1960 — Toft Dairy became the first dairy in the surrounding area to switch away from glass bottles to plastic jugs. • 1985 — Toft Dairy built its current facility on Venice Road in Sandusky. This location is also home to the famous Toft Dairy Ice Cream Parlor, which has become a landmark in the local community as well as a beloved tourist attraction. The parlor is home to more than 50 flavors of ice cream and all Toft's dairy products. • 2008 — Toft's installed the area's first wind turbine to help power daily operations in the plant. Crews also remodeled its ice cream parlor, leaving its iconic wooden seating and original soda fountain intact. • Today — Toft Dairy is a state-of-the-art 76,000-square-foot facility still located on Venice Road. The legacy Toft's has created is a testament to their commitment to quality and forward-thinking principles. • Future — The future is bright for Toft Dairy, thanks to five generations of family, dedicated to creating the most delicious products. Family owned and operated since 1900, Toft's is excited to announce the upcoming expansion of their facility on Venice Road. They will soon be adding over 20,000 square feet of freezer space, allowing Toft's to expand their distribution capabilities. Who's Tilly? Toft Dairy also offered a primer on Tilly and its overall importance to the company: In 1900, when Chris and Matilda Toft were just opening their barn doors as a new dairy farm, there was a cow who provided dependable and delicious milk to their very first customers. This adorable cow was named Tilly after Matilda Toft. A cow statue remains in front of the Toft Dairy on Venice Road in honor of the first cow to ever produce Toft's milk. Tilly is known as a symbol of wholesomeness and tradition, founding the original recipe for the delicious milk we all love now five generations later. Tilly's legacy is strong today. As Toft's moves through its second century, Tilly has become an endorsement of the "one-quality" philosophy. Toft's commitment to each of its high-quality products includes working closely with our 13 local farms to ensure that everything we produce remains free from the synthetic growth hormone rBST. Our official promise of Toft's quality is now displayed on our packaging as "Tilly Approved" in honor of her. You will also be able to find her as small, chocolate cow-shaped inclusions — filled with peanut butter — in our newly released and trademarked Tilly Tracks ice cream flavors. Come find Tilly in her newly released flavors: Vanilla Tilly Tracks, Chocolate Tilly Tracks and Peanut Butter Tilly Tracks.