Richardson's Ice Cream

Richardson's Ice Cream is an American ice cream brand produced on a working dairy farm in Middleton, Massachusetts. The business traces its roots to 1695, when David Richardson moved from Woburn to what was then Salem Village — now part of Middleton — and started Richardson's Farm. The Richardson family has milked cows in Middleton every day since his arrival, a span the company describes as more than 300 years, or roughly 109,500 consecutive days. The farm and ice cream operations are currently managed by the 9th generation of the family, and the company states it has been continuously family-run since day one. The modern ice cream business began in 1952, when Ben and Hazen Richardson set out to make "One Perfect Ice Cream." A decade later the ice cream stand had become a local favorite with more than 50 flavors — a remarkable achievement at the time. In 1978 the family launched a wholesale business, delivering its ice cream to other dairy stands, grocery stores and restaurants throughout New England. Today the Middleton location combines a working dairy farm and ice cream stand with an old-fashioned experience that the company says has become a tradition for generations; the adjacent Golf Country attraction, just steps away, is part of the same visitor experience. Richardson's markets itself as "award-winning, dairy fresh ice cream" and as a dairy farming family that has served homemade dairy products for generations. Its product range centers on ice cream sold at its stands and through wholesale channels, with a rotating roster of flavors that has included Blueberry Pie and Campfire S'mores. The brand leans heavily on nostalgia and heritage: customers who discovered it as children return with their children and grandchildren. Ownership remains private and family-held, with no public listing.

The Richardson family came to America in 1636, after having been farmers in England. They first stopped in Charlestown and then helped settle the pasture lands of Woburn. By 1695, David Richardson moved from Woburn to Salem Village, which is now part of Middleton, Massachusetts, and started Richardson's Farm as it is known today. For the first few generations in Middleton, the Richardsons were mostly subsistence farmers: milking cows, raising chickens, vegetables and any other food needed to sustain the family. The family notes that the Richardsons have milked cows in Middleton every day since David's arrival — more than 300 years, or about 109,500 days straight. By 1900 the farm began growing with more and more cows, under the charge of Hazen K. Richardson. With his two sons, Ben and Hazen M., they started bottling, selling and distributing milk in 1917. The farm expanded to over 1,000 cows by 1934. In 1952, Ben and Hazen Richardson set out to make "One Perfect Ice Cream." A decade later, the ice cream stand had become a local favorite with over 50 flavors to choose from — described by the company as a remarkable achievement at the time. In 1978, the family launched its wholesale business, delivering ice cream to other dairy stands, grocery stores and restaurants throughout New England. The business has remained continuously family-run since day one, and the farm and ice cream operations are currently managed by the 9th generation. As operations expanded, the company attracted herdsmen, farmers and dairymen to join the team. Today the Middleton site pairs a working dairy farm with an ice cream stand and an old-fashioned visitor experience; the nearby Golf Country attraction, just steps away, is presented as part of the same outing. The brand continues to introduce new flavors, such as Blueberry Pie and Campfire S'mores, and to serve customers who first discovered it as children and now bring their own children and grandchildren.

• 1978

  The family launches its wholesale business, delivering ice cream to dairy stands, grocery stores and restaurants throughout New England.

• 1962

  About a decade after 1952, the ice cream stand becomes a local favorite with over 50 flavors.

• 1952

  Ben and Hazen Richardson set out to make "One Perfect Ice Cream."

• 1934

  The farm expands to over 1,000 cows.

• 1917

  Hazen K. Richardson and his sons Ben and Hazen M. start bottling, selling and distributing milk.

• 1900

  The farm begins growing with more cows under Hazen K. Richardson.

• 1695

  David Richardson moves from Woburn to Salem Village (now Middleton, Massachusetts) and starts Richardson's Farm.

• 1636

  The Richardson family emigrates from England to America, first stopping in Charlestown and then helping settle the pasture lands of Woburn.

Award-winning, dairy-fresh, homemade ice cream from a working family dairy farm, sold as an old-fashioned, multi-generational tradition.

• Ice cream (50+ flavors at the stand)

• Blueberry Pie flavor

• Campfire S'mores flavor

• Bottled and distributed milk

1. 1Richardsons Ice Cream | Award Winning Ice Cream made in Middleton, Massachusettsrichardsonsicecream.com
2. 2Our History | Richardsons Ice Creamrichardsonsicecream.com
3. 3About Us | Richardsons Ice Creamrichardsonsicecream.com