Purity Dairies

Purity Dairies is a regional dairy company based in Nashville, Tennessee, whose roots reach back to a family dairy operation established by Miles Ezell. The business began as Ezell's Dairy after Ezell purchased Dr. C. N. Cowden's dairy farm in 1926. It was formally incorporated as Purity Dairies in 1946, following the acquisition of the Green Vale milk plant on Murfreesboro Road and a merger with Rosebank Dairies. The company developed during a period when pasteurization requirements caused many smaller local dairies to close, leaving Purity among the surviving producers serving Middle Tennessee. Under the leadership of Albert Gasser, who joined as president, Purity expanded its position as a leading milk producer in Middle Tennessee. A dedicated sales organization was created in the mid-1950s, initially consisting of Tom Pugh as the company's sole sales representative and later expanding to support distribution through area retailers. This retail-focused approach helped the company build regional market share rather than compete as a broadly national dairy group. The brand's portfolio has included conventional dairy staples such as milk, sour cream, cheese, butter, cottage cheese, buttermilk, and ice cream. It has also commercialized non-dairy and adjacent beverage products including orange juice, lemonade, tea, and bottled water. Purity has been associated with regional product identities such as Golden Gernsey milk and GoldenFlake buttermilk. In the late 1980s, a collaboration with Blue Bell Creameries enabled the company to expand its ice-cream offering; that line became a leading seller in the local market. Purity has also remained one of the last distributors of the Nutty Buddy ice-cream cone. Product and packaging development have been important parts of the company's regional reputation. Purity was an early user of HEPA filtration in its cottage-cheese production area, a measure credited with substantially extending product shelf life. It also adopted wax-free paper packaging and opaque gallon milk containers. Its advertising became especially recognizable through a series of commercials featuring actor Jim Varney as Ernest P. Worrell, a character that helped increase market penetration and became closely associated with the company's brand communications. The Ezell family continued to participate in management after the company changed ownership. Dean Foods purchased Purity Dairies in 1998, making it part of a larger U.S. dairy organization while retaining its regional identity. In 2020, Dairy Farmers of America acquired the relevant Dean Foods assets, including Purity Dairies. Purity now operates as a Dairy Farmers of America subsidiary and continues to serve a regional territory spanning Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky. Its business remains centered on dairy foods, frozen treats, and selected beverages distributed through local and regional channels.

Purity Dairies originated with a dairy farm operated by Dr. C. N. Cowden. In 1926, Cowden sold the farm to Miles Ezell after Ezell had rented it for a year. The business was initially known as Ezell's Dairy and became part of a shrinking group of local dairies that survived the spread of mandatory pasteurization requirements during the following decades. In 1945, the original farm operation was closed. Miles Ezell obtained a small-business loan and purchased the Green Vale milk plant on Murfreesboro Road. He then combined the plant with Rosebank Dairies. The resulting business was formally incorporated under the name Purity Dairies in 1946. Albert Gasser joined the company as president and helped it become a dominant milk producer in Middle Tennessee. Purity built its identity around regional production, retail relationships, and product differentiation. During the 1950s, the company established a sales force that began with Tom Pugh as its only sales representative. Additional sales personnel were later added, helping Purity increase distribution and market share among area retailers. The company promoted Golden Gernsey milk at one stage and later emphasized GoldenFlake buttermilk, which received national awards. Manufacturing and packaging innovations contributed to Purity's reputation. The company was among the early dairy producers to use HEPA filtration in a cottage-cheese production area, improving the product's shelf life. It also adopted wax-free paper packaging and opaque gallon containers for milk. Marketing was another important growth tool. Advertisements featuring Jim Varney in his Ernest P. Worrell character expanded the brand's market penetration and gave Purity a particularly memorable regional advertising identity. The portfolio broadened over time from milk into sour cream, cheese, butter, cottage cheese, buttermilk, ice cream, juices, bottled water, lemonade, and tea. In the late 1980s, Purity worked with Blue Bell Creameries to introduce an ice-cream line that became a leading seller in the local market. Purity also became one of the last distributors of the Nutty Buddy ice-cream cone. The company later participated in a home-delivery partnership with Plumgood Foods, a grocery-delivery company that subsequently ceased operations. Dean Foods purchased Purity Dairies in 1998. Although the transaction placed the regional company within a larger corporate structure, members of the Ezell family continued to be involved in management. In 2020, Dairy Farmers of America acquired Purity as part of its purchase of assets from Dean Foods. Purity remains identified with Nashville and continues to operate as a regional dairy business serving Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky.

• 2020

  Dairy Farmers of America acquisition

  [1]Purity Dairiesen.wikipedia.org

  Dairy Farmers of America acquired Purity Dairies through its purchase of relevant Dean Foods assets.

• 1998

  Dean Foods acquisition

  [1]Purity Dairiesen.wikipedia.org

  Dean Foods purchased Purity Dairies, adding the regional brand to its dairy portfolio.

• 1980

  Ice-cream line expands through Blue Bell collaboration

  [1]Purity Dairiesen.wikipedia.org

  In the late 1980s, Purity collaborated with Blue Bell Creameries on an ice-cream offering that became a leading local seller.

• 1950

  Sales organization begins expansion

  [1]Purity Dairiesen.wikipedia.org

  Purity established a sales force beginning with Tom Pugh and later added more sales professionals to expand retail distribution.

• 1946

  Purity Dairies is incorporated

  [1]Purity Dairiesen.wikipedia.org

  The combined dairy business was formally incorporated as Purity Dairies.

• 1945

  Farm operation closes and processing assets are acquired

  [1]Purity Dairiesen.wikipedia.org

  After the farm was shut down, Ezell obtained a small-business loan, bought the Green Vale milk plant, and merged it with Rosebank Dairies.

• 1926

  Miles Ezell acquires the dairy farm

  [1]Purity Dairiesen.wikipedia.org

  Miles Ezell purchased Dr. C. N. Cowden's dairy farm after renting it for a year, establishing the operation later known as Ezell's Dairy.

A longstanding, family-founded regional dairy brand emphasizing local heritage, dependable retail distribution, product quality, and recognizable Southern-market advertising.

• Dairy

  Milk

  Milk has been the core of Purity Dairies' business since its early years as Ezell's Dairy. The brand has promoted regional milk products including Golden Gernsey milk and has been associated with packaging innovations such as wax-free paper containers and opaque gallon packaging. Milk production and distribution helped establish Purity as a leading Middle Tennessee dairy.

• Dairy

  GoldenFlake buttermilk

  GoldenFlake buttermilk became one of Purity's notable regional product identities after the company shifted promotional emphasis from Golden Gernsey milk. The product received national awards, giving the Nashville-based dairy recognition beyond its immediate retail territory and reinforcing its positioning around traditional dairy quality.

• Dairy

  Cottage cheese

  Purity's cottage-cheese production was associated with an early use of HEPA filtration in the production area. The company credited this manufacturing approach with dramatically improving shelf life. Cottage cheese formed part of the broader cultured and refrigerated dairy range alongside milk, sour cream, cheese, and butter.

• Frozen dairy · 1980

  Ice cream

  Purity expanded into ice cream in collaboration with Blue Bell Creameries in the late 1980s. The resulting line became a best-selling product in the local market. Purity has also been identified as one of the last distributors of the Nutty Buddy ice-cream cone, linking the company to a distinctive regional frozen-treat offering.

• Beverages

  Juices and fruit beverages

  Purity's beverage range has extended beyond dairy into orange juice and lemonade. These products broadened the company from a conventional milk supplier into a regional refrigerated and ready-to-drink beverage brand, using the existing distribution footprint serving Tennessee and neighboring markets.

• Beverages

  Tea and bottled water

  Tea and bottled water have also appeared in Purity's commercial range. Their inclusion reflects the company's wider beverage strategy, complementing core dairy products with non-dairy offerings distributed through the same regional retail network.

• 1980Ernest P. Worrell advertising

  Tennessee · United States

  Purity used Jim Varney in a series of advertisements featuring his Ernest P. Worrell character. The campaign helped expand the company's market penetration and became one of the brand's most recognizable advertising associations.

  Outcome. The advertising increased local market visibility and made the Ernest character an enduring part of Purity's regional brand identity.

  Source

• 2020

  Dairy Farmers of America acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Dairy Farmers of America acquired assets from Dean Foods during the restructuring of the larger dairy company.

  Action taken

  Dairy Farmers of America acquired Purity Dairies as part of the Dean Foods asset transaction.

  Aftermath

  Purity became a subsidiary of Dairy Farmers of America and continued serving its regional markets.

  Source

• 1998

  Dean Foods acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Purity had developed as a regional dairy company while retaining strong family involvement.

  Action taken

  Dean Foods purchased Purity Dairies.

  Aftermath

  Purity continued as a regional operation within Dean Foods, with members of the Ezell family still involved in management.

  Source

• 1980

  Expansion into ice cream with Blue BellProduct launch

  Background

  Purity sought to broaden its regional dairy portfolio beyond fluid milk and cultured products.

  Action taken

  The company collaborated with Blue Bell Creameries to introduce an ice-cream line in the late 1980s.

  Aftermath

  The ice-cream offering became a best seller in the local market and remains part of Purity's historical product identity.

  Source

• 2020

  Dairy Farmers of America acquires Purity Dairies through Dean Foods transaction[1]Purity Dairiesen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Dairy Farmers of America acquired Purity Dairies as part of its acquisition of relevant Dean Foods assets, making Purity a subsidiary of the farmer-owned dairy cooperative.

• 1998

  Dean Foods purchases Purity Dairies[1]Purity Dairiesen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Purity Dairies was acquired by Dean Foods, while members of the Ezell family remained involved in management.

1. 1Purity Dairiesen.wikipedia.org