Established in 1941, Crest Foods specializes in dairy stabilizers, manufacturing and contract packaging. It operates a dairy ingredient division that offers buttermilk, cream cheese, ice cream, yogurt and seasoning blends. The company s contract packaging capabilities include shrink wrapping, case sealing, pouch slitting and labeling. Crest Foods maintains a consumer products division that provides kitchen testing, package design, finished goods manufacturing, and ingredient and material sourcing, as well as the development of new products. It has a work force of more than 550 professionals. The company also operates a microbiological laboratory that is certified by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Additionally, Crest Foods offers technical, research and development, and inventory control and warehousing services.