Industry · Form 5500 business code 311500
Dairy Product Mfg: retirement plans
Plans whose sponsor entered this principal business activity code on Form 5500.
Form 5500 information is as filed by the plan administrator with the Department of Labor and may be amended. Figures reflect the plan year shown, not current balances. The business code is chosen by the filer from the list in the Form 5500 instructions.
156 retirement plans in dairy product mfg with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024 (136 defined contribution, 20 defined benefit). All Form 5500 pension filers in the group reported 228,426 participant records and $20.9B in net assets.
The median defined contribution plan held $55,154 per participant, close to the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $2,198 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $121 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $531M and participants $703M during the year, and the plans paid out $2.16B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 166 plans with $8.44B; by 2024 it was 156 plans (down 6%) and $20.9B (up 147%). From plan year 2023 the 100-participant line counts participants with account balances, which moved many plans to the short form.
Medians compared with all US plans
| Median plan, plan year 2024 | Industry: DC | US: DC | Industry: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $55,154 | $53,031 | $82,769 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $2,198 | $2,174 | $4,380 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $121 | $123 | $507 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.22% | 0.26% | 0.56% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $117 | $116 | $565 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (132 DC and 20 DB plans with a Schedule H here). Fee medians cover plans reporting an amount. DC: defined contribution, such as 401(k) and 403(b). DB: defined benefit pension.
Distribution of DC plans
| Measure | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $37,010 | $55,154 | $89,260 | 132 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,498 | $2,198 | $3,690 | 128 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $63.51 | $121 | $194 | 129 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $59.35 | $117 | $202 | 131 |
Trend by plan year
| Plan year | Plans 100+ | Participants | Net assets | Employer contributions | Participant contributions | Median DC assets / participant | Median DC Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025partial | 13 | 15,671 | $1.48B | $64.2M | $70.1M | $83,900 | $109 |
| 2024 | 156 | 228,426 | $20.9B | $531M | $703M | $55,154 | $121 |
| 2023 | 158 | 218,240 | $19.5B | $562M | $651M | $51,349 | $123 |
| 2022 | 177 | 223,836 | $16.9B | $494M | $627M | $42,657 | $120 |
| 2021 | 181 | 213,143 | $19.0B | $488M | $586M | $57,509 | $132 |
| 2020 | 181 | 218,653 | $18.7B | $475M | $587M | $55,012 | $102 |
| 2019 | 176 | 216,158 | $16.7B | $455M | $546M | $43,042 | $94.18 |
| 2018 | 172 | 213,155 | $14.5B | $455M | $503M | $39,063 | $91.64 |
| 2017 | 171 | 217,723 | $15.4B | $409M | $472M | $41,708 | $78.51 |
| 2016 | 168 | 220,831 | $14.1B | $471M | $425M | $40,136 | $78.29 |
| 2015 | 165 | 214,073 | $12.9B | $421M | $384M | $34,695 | $70.73 |
| 2014 | 173 | 220,961 | $12.6B | $459M | $354M | $39,510 | $65.52 |
| 2013 | 168 | 213,609 | $11.9B | $377M | $328M | $38,839 | $57.32 |
| 2012 | 167 | 205,821 | $10.4B | $353M | $308M | $34,121 | $61.35 |
| 2011 | 171 | 210,493 | $9.59B | $308M | $296M | $30,328 | $55.27 |
| 2010 | 170 | 216,451 | $9.45B | $371M | $299M | $31,830 | $40.62 |
| 2009 | 166 | 215,292 | $8.44B | $354M | $285M | $29,813 | $33.04 |
Plan year is the year in which the plan year began. The drop in large plans from 2023 follows a rule change: the 100-participant line now counts participants with account balances, so many plans moved to the short form.
Provider share
Service provider organisations named most often on the Schedule C of the 155 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 40 largest by participants of 155 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land O'Lakes, Inc. Employee Savings and Supplemental Retirement Plan | Land O'Lakes, Inc. | MN | DC | 11,406 | $2.04B | $178,937 | $7,056 | $10.41 |
| Land O'Lakes, Inc. Employee Retirement Plan | Land O'Lakes, Inc. | MN | DB | 9,990 | $860M | $86,110 | — | $165 |
| Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. Super Savings Plan | Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. | KS | DC | 9,978 | $875M | $87,673 | $3,472 | $1.56 |
| Saputo USA 401(k) Plan | Saputo Cheese USA Inc. | WI | DC | 9,455 | $650M | $68,732 | $3,038 | $49.45 |
| Dfa Dairy Brands Smartchoice Savings Plan | Dfa Dairy Brands Corporate, LLC | KS | DC | 8,331 | $603M | $72,404 | $1,796 | $1.87 |
| Schreiber Foods, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Schreiber Foods, Inc. | WI | DC | 7,926 | $672M | $84,778 | $133 | $59.28 |
| Prairie Farms Dairy Thrift Incentive Plan | Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. | IL | DC | 7,733 | $637M | $82,437 | $7,148 | $173 |
| Danone U.S. 401(k) Plan | Danone North America Public Benefit Corporation | NY | DC | 7,434 | $773M | $103,932 | $4,953 | $88.10 |
| Schreiber Foods, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Schreiber Foods, Inc. | WI | DC | 7,342 | $3.21B | $437,324 | $5,017 | — |
| Treehouse Foods, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Treehouse Foods, Inc. | IL | DC | 5,933 | $398M | $67,081 | $2,716 | $121 |
| Leprino Foods Company Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan | Leprino Foods Company | CO | DC | 5,250 | $673M | $128,283 | $3,991 | $73.05 |
| Wells Enterprises, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Wells Enterprises, Inc. | IA | DC | 5,007 | $446M | $89,039 | $3,798 | $84.44 |
| Great Lakes Cheese Co., Inc. 401(k) Plan and Trust | Great Lakes Cheese Co., Inc. | OH | DC | 4,729 | $124M | $26,120 | — | $95.95 |
| Blue Bell Creameries, Inc. Pension Plan | Blue Bell Creameries, Inc. | TX | DB | 4,641 | $420M | $90,544 | — | $72.15 |
| Great Lakes Cheese Co., Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Great Lakes Cheese Co. | OH | DC | 4,352 | $502M | $115,266 | $3,004 | $120 |
| Blue Bell Creameries, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Blue Bell Creameries, Inc. | TX | DC | 4,140 | $40.7M | $9,829 | $0 | $5.14 |
| Prairie Farms Dairy 401(k) Plan | Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. | IL | DC | 4,101 | $39.0M | $9,521 | $330 | $24.89 |
| Prairie Farms Dairy 401(k) Plan | Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. | IL | DC | 4,101 | $39.0M | $9,521 | $330 | $24.89 |
| Blue Bell Creameries, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Blue Bell Creameries, Inc. | TX | DC | 4,078 | $195M | $47,896 | $833 | $16.83 |
| Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. KSOP | Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. | MS | DC | 4,015 | $291M | $72,516 | $1,490 | $61.48 |
| HP Hood LLC Retirement Savings Plan | HP Hood LLC | MA | DC | 3,808 | $452M | $118,763 | $3,654 | $112 |
| Chobani Global Holdings, LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan & Trust | Chobani Global Holdings, LLC | NY | DC | 3,527 | $196M | $55,507 | $3,423 | $30.75 |
| Sargento Profit Sharing and Retirement Plan | Sargento Foods Inc. | WI | DC | 3,470 | $660M | $190,241 | $10,486 | $5.80 |
| Lactalis Dairy USA 401(k) Plan | Karoun Dairies, LLC | CA | DC | 3,075 | $282M | $91,660 | $6,150 | $92.33 |
| Marathon Cheese Employee's 401(k) Retirement Plan | Marathon Cheese Corporation | WI | DC | 2,888 | $205M | $71,144 | $1,382 | $139 |
| Agropur Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Agropur Inc. | WI | DC | 2,857 | $286M | $100,045 | $5,061 | $85.98 |
| Lactalis American Group, Inc. Retirement Plan | Lactalis American Group Inc. | NY | DC | 2,455 | $226M | $92,116 | $4,979 | $97.04 |
| Hilmar Cheese Company Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan | Hilmar Cheese Company | CA | DC | 2,284 | $237M | $103,703 | $4,895 | $67.90 |
| Cambria Holdings 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Cambria Company LLC | MN | DC | 2,209 | $145M | $65,589 | $1,891 | $36.00 |
| Local 584 Pension Trust Fund | Board of Trustees of Local 584 Pension Trust Fund | NY | DB | 1,912 | $209M | $109,204 | $9,139 | $516 |
| Producers Dairy Foods Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Producers Dairy Foods Inc. | CA | DC | 1,813 | $92.3M | $50,904 | $2,000 | $96.94 |
| Panhandle Products, LLC 401(k) Plan | Panhandle Products, LLC | TX | DC | 1,719 | — | — | — | — |
| Agri-Mark, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan | Agri-Mark, Inc. | MA | DC | 1,626 | $120M | $74,104 | $821 | $42.87 |
| Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. Retirement Plan | Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. | KS | DB | 1,622 | $93.8M | $57,803 | $27,264 | $513 |
| Grande Associates Asset Accumulation Plan | Grande Cheese Company | WI | DC | 1,590 | $211M | $132,938 | $3,410 | $87.61 |
| Borden Dairy Retirement Savings Plan | New Dairy Opco LLC | CO | DC | 1,564 | $76.9M | $49,191 | $1,714 | $172 |
| Retirement Income Plan for the Employees of Dannon | Danone North America Public Benefit Corporation | NY | DB | 1,517 | $87.8M | $57,857 | $1,624 | $500 |
| Darigold, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan | Darigold, Inc. | WA | DC | 1,508 | $164M | $108,802 | $7,712 | $164 |
| Masters Gallery Foods, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan | Masters Gallery Foods, Inc. | WI | DC | 1,486 | $95.6M | $64,341 | $2,067 | $116 |
| Ampi 401(k) Plan | Associated Milk Producers Inc. | MN | DC | 1,414 | $70.2M | $49,635 | $2,627 | $69.56 |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in dairy product mfg?
156 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 190 pension plans on the full form. Smaller plans file Form 5500-SF and are counted separately where shown.
What is the typical 401(k) balance in dairy product mfg?
The median defined contribution plan reported $55,154 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $37,010 to $89,260); nationally it was $53,031. This is a plan-level average that includes former employees, not a typical person's balance.
What do employers contribute in dairy product mfg?
The median defined contribution plan received $2,198 in employer contributions per active participant, against $2,174 nationally. Plans with no employer contribution are included at zero.
What are average 401(k) fees in dairy product mfg?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $121 per participant and 0.22% of net assets (nationally $123 and 0.26%). Schedule C leaves out fund expense ratios and fees the employer pays, so it understates total cost.
Where does this come from?
Form 5500 annual reports in the EBSA research files, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Medians are computed by this site across plans with 100 or more participants.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Form 5500 research files, public domain, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Totals count every pension plan on the full form; medians and the plan list cover plans with 100 or more participants. See the methodology.