Family-owned Mr. Dairy celebrated its 25th anniversary this week, commemorating many years of service in the area.
Owners Margie Kneeshaw along with her father Arpad Szabo, brother Arpad Jr., and brother-in-law Mark Geertsema are the original owners of Mr. Dairy, which started in 1995 with just one truck.
“My father (Arpad) was the original milkman,” says Kneeshaw. “I joined the business after I finished university.”
Mr. Dairy is now a 28-truck operation, delivering all over Ontario, including Barrie, Oshawa, Milton, and even the Niaraga Region a couple of days a week.
“In regular times, the business would be servicing schools, banquet halls, golf courses, restaurants,” says Kneeshaw. “But in areas where they are Stage 2, like Toronto-Peel where we are strongest in, we’re just doing deliveries, but the orders are much smaller due to a lack of dining component… Some customers (restaurants) had to close down so we lost clients.”
Mr. Dairy offers a full line of products and beverages including sparkling waters, juice, pop, and canned goods such as tomatoes, tuna, olive oil, and mayonnaise.
“We’re a full food distribution now,” says Kneeshaw.
The family is working on adding new internal software that will allow customers and clients to use an online portal to order through which should be ready at the beginning of the new year.
Over the years, Mr. Dairy has provided free ice cream and treats for many Bradford events, including the Canada Day drive through this year at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Leisure Centre.
“Our family used to throw an annual corn roast on my parents' property where we would invite clients,” says Kneeshaw. “But with everything happening this year, it was cancelled due to COVID.”
Kneeshaw adds that although they won’t be having any formal celebration to honour their 25 years in business, they will be having cupcakes with employees early next week.
“Right now, we’re just keeping our heads down and working,” says Kneeshaw.
For more information on Mr. Dairy and its products, visit www.mrdairy.com.
