Lewes Dairy is headed to Millsboro

Lewes Dairy will soon operate out of a brand-new facility in Millsboro. 

Millsboro Town Council approved a request June 5 for the company to build a new distribution facility and ice cream parlor on a 3.5-acre parcel near the Millsboro Lanes bowling alley. 

“Council is incredibly excited that Lewes Dairy, a Sussex County icon, is moving to Millsboro,” said Millsboro Town Manager Sheldon P. Hudson. “Lewes Dairy will be bringing warehousing jobs, and this will only serve to strengthen the town’s reputation as an employment center on Delmarva.” 

Lewes Dairy merged with Hy-Point Dairy of Wilmington in 2013.

Lewes Mayor Ted Becker said he’s sorry to see the longtime business leave town. 

“It’s a big loss for the community,” he said. “But I understand for their distribution, a more central location may be necessary.” 

The Pilottown Road property is owned by the Brittingham family, the original owners of Lewes Dairy. The 2.9-acre parcel along the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal has been on the market for more than a year for $6.2 million. 

Becker said a collateral benefit of the dairy moving to Millsboro will be reduction in truck traffic on Pilottown and New roads. 

The history of Lewes Dairy dates back to the 1920s when Grace and Emory Brittingham used their farm to produce milk for local customers. In the 1930s, the dairy was the first south of the canal to switch to refrigeration, cooling systems and pasteurization to eliminate bacteria.

In addition to its milk, Lewes Dairy has become well known for its egg nog and heavy cream. 

Jay Meany, owner of Lewes and Hy-Point dairies, was not available for comment before press time.