Family-owned Since 1940 — and A Partner of Nino Salvaggio's for Over 20 Years.

When you find a partner who shares your values, you hold on tight. That's how we feel about Guernsey Farms Dairy — a Michigan institution that has been making wholesome, premium dairy products since 1940. We've been proud to carry their products on our shelves for well over 20 years, here at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace.

A Family Story That Started in 1940

Family-owned and operated for more than 80 years, Guernsey is the kind of company that reminds you why "made locally" still means something. The Guernsey story begins with John McGuire, who founded the dairy in Northville back in 1940. Originally known as Red Rose Dairy, the operation got its current name when McGuire decided to honor the source of his success: the Guernsey cows whose milk was prized for its high butterfat content. The cows are long gone — it turns out they weren't the most productive milk producers — but the name stuck, and so did the commitment to quality it represented.

For its first two decades, Guernsey was a simple neighborhood dairy, delivering fresh milk to local doorsteps in glass bottles. From those humble beginnings it has grown into a national operation, with products now found in hundreds of restaurants, grocery stores, and retail outlets across the country — all while staying true to its roots.

Still in the Family, Generations Later

What makes Guernsey special isn't just its longevity — it's that the business is still very much a family affair. Multiple generations of the McGuire family work in the company today, sharing the everyday work of keeping a beloved brand running. There are no airs about it: on any given morning, you might find the owners themselves helping unload a delivery truck.

That hands-on spirit traces back to founder John McGuire, who passed away in 2011 at the remarkable age of 103. His legacy is literally rooted at the dairy's home in Northville, where a 200-year-old oak tree and a cluster of boulders unearthed during construction still stand out front. As the family likes to say, the tree represents their strong roots, and the rocks their strong foundation.

It's a story we know firsthand. As our co-owner Frank Nicolella puts it: "When we look at Guernsey, we see a reflection of ourselves — a family business, built right here in Michigan, run by the people whose name is on the door. My own kids are in the store every single day now, the third generation stepping up to carry this forward, so I know exactly what it takes to keep something like this going across generations. That's a shared experience, and it's the heart of why this partnership means so much to us."

Quality That Starts at the Source

Guernsey believes that great products begin with great ingredients. Though the dairy no longer keeps its own cows, every drop of its milk comes from a single, family-owned Michigan farm — Walnutdale Farms in Wayland, a fourth-generation operation that shares Guernsey's obsession with quality. That careful sourcing carries through to everything Guernsey makes, from its award-winning small-batch ice cream and fresh milk and cream to specialty products like toppings, lemonade, and honey vanilla chai.

The company's guiding values say it best: Quality, Intention, Honesty, and Family. As Guernsey puts it, these aren't just words — they're what the company is proud to stand for. It's an approach they call "the Guernsey Difference," and it's exactly why we're proud to call them a partner.

Come Taste the Guernsey Farms Dairy Difference With Us

Want to experience it for yourself? Here's your chance.

On Saturday, June 13, 2026, iHeartRadio will be on hand at our Livonia store with their ice cream truck, handing out free samples of Guernsey ice cream. PLUS, they're giving away eight $25 Nino Salvaggio gift cards! Stop by, say hello, and taste what more than 80 years of family craftsmanship is all about.

When: Saturday, June 13 — 2pm to 4pm

Where: Our Livonia store | 18700 Haggerty Rd, Livonia, MI 48152

We hope to see you there!

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