Tolland Ice Cream Distribution Center Designated For Closure

TOLLAND, CT — Dari Farms Ice Cream and frozen product distribution centers in Tolland and Milford have been designated for closure, according to a WARN, or Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notice, filed with the Connecticut Department of Labor. Ninety-seven jobs will be lost in the shuffle.

The notice was filed on Oct. 3, and some "separations" have already taken place, according to its wording.

The plants are designed for full closure "on or about Oct. 18," according to the WARN notice. No reason was given.

The Tolland center at 55 Gerber Drive is near the Star Hill sports bubble and will be losing 91 jobs, according to the WARN notice.

The Milford center, located at 268 Quarry Road, will lose a half-dozen positions, according to the WARN notice.

Diversis Capital LLC, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, announced in Aug. 2018 that it had acquired Dari Farms Ice Cream. Calls to Diversis were directed to Dari Farms in Tolland and calls to Dari Farms were met with a carousel of transfers before the call was disconncted.

Dari Farms, which does business as DF Opco LLC, is described in a corporate profile as a full-service, direct store delivery distributor serving more than 5,000 retail points. It was founded founded in 1970. Dari Farms has distribution partnerships with regional and national ice cream brands, including Ben & Jerry's and Haagen Dazs.