Last November on The Michigan Opportunity podcast from The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, host Ed Clemente sat down with Dean Angott, President of C.F. Burger Creamery and Twin Pines Farm Dairy, to explore how Detroit’s only remaining dairy plant has thrived for nearly a century.
From its deep family roots to cutting-edge investments and community leadership, here’s a condensed look at Dean’s insights and the story behind Michigan’s enduring dairy gem. Click here to listen to the full interview!
Heritage, Family Roots & Strategic Partnerships
C.F. Burger Creamery traces its beginnings to the 1920s, when Charles F. Burger built a reputation for delivering premium bottled milk around Detroit. In the 1970s, Dean’s family, already operating Twin Pines home-delivery routes and managing Farm Made Dairy, merged with and ultimately took ownership of C.F. Burger, uniting two generational legacies under one roof. Today, that combined history powers everything from our signature Half & Half to the coffee cream that local baristas call “table cream.”
One of the most remarkable partnerships Dean highlighted is the 59-year relationship with McDonald’s. What began as local store deliveries in 1965 has grown into supplying multiple distribution centers from Michigan down to the Carolinas, representing roughly 14 percent of McDonald’s U.S. dairy volume.
“McDonald’s only sources from the very best, and to be part of that system is a real badge of honor,” Dean explained. This long-standing collaboration illustrates how a family-owned Detroit plant can compete and win on a national scale.
Innovation, Investment & Product Excellence
While honoring its heritage, C.F. Burger has never rested on its laurels. Over the last seven years, the company has invested more than $12 million in state-of-the-art processing and packaging equipment. A multimillion-dollar fill-line installed less than two years ago replaced two older machines, boosting efficiency, product consistency, and reliability.
These upgrades means that when you pour our Half & Half, Coffee Cream (our rich 18% table cream), Fat-Free Half & Half, or Heavy Whipping Cream, you’re getting a product made with precision engineering and uncompromising quality.
As Dean puts it, “We do what we say we’re going to do, and we do it better today than we did yesterday.”
Behind every carton is a team of 60 dedicated employees, including six quality-systems professionals, three with master’s degrees and one PhD, who rigorously test ingredients from the Michigan Milk Producers Association’s cream to the finest sweeteners. They maintain exacting sensory and safety standards so that every batch meets C.F. Burger’s promise of family-based ethics and integrity.
Michigan Pride, Community Impact & Industry Leadership
For Dean, being a Michigan dairy isn’t just about geography, it’s a responsibility to local farms and communities. As the only dairy processor invited to sit on the United Dairy Industry of Michigan board, Dean works hand-in-hand with family-run farms to shape statewide promotions, scholarship programs, and educational outreach.
This unique partnership places him “shoulder-to-shoulder” with dairy farmers, many of whom have been suppliers for decades so that that everyone from cooperative members to processor staff share the same dedication to quality and community values
Dean’s community leadership extends beyond industry circles into the heart of Michigan’s cultural traditions. In 2012, when entrepreneur Blair Bowman announced plans to revive the long-defunct Michigan State Fair as a privately funded event, Dean immediately pledged his support. By 2013, the “reincarnation” of this second-oldest fair in the nation was underway, producing a festival that places agriculture front and center.
“It’s about giving back,” Dean said, “and reinforcing that agriculture, and dairy in particular, remains the bedrock of our state’s economy.”
From hands-on animal exhibits to produce showcases, city kids and farm families alike reconnect with Michigan’s agricultural roots. Under Dean’s guidance, the fair now awards $50,000 in scholarships each year to students pursuing agricultural and home-arts programs, and has raised over $7 million for local charities, all without a single dollar of public funding
Consumer Trends & Future Vision
After decades of declining milk consumption, Dean notes a significant rebound over the last five years as nutrition experts and consumers alike rediscover dairy fats’ health benefits. “When people realize whole milk and cream aren’t villains, they come back,” he observed. That shift in perception is good news not just for nostalgic coffee-drinkers but also for those seeking nutrient-dense foods in their wellness routines.
Looking toward C.F. Burger’s centennial in 2026, Dean’s vision remains clear: continue investing in people, technology, and partnerships that honor the company’s family foundations while seizing emerging market opportunities. The advice he’d give to his 17-year-old self (and any young professional) to “learn, learn, learn, and don’t shy away from experiences” reflects the same spirit that has driven C.F. Burger Creamery through economic cycles, wars, and industry upheavals.
Don’t forget to listen to the full interview wherever you get your podcasts, and check out all of CF Burger Creamery’s products right here on our website. We’re looking forward to celebrating our 100 year anniversary next year, and to 100 more years of farm-fresh fun, Michigan pride, and that unbeatable creamy goodness we all love.
Stay cozy, stay curious, and keep enjoying every delicious moment!