United Dairy Farmers, the family-owned Ohio chain known for ice cream and convenience stores, is entering EV charging. It will install its first DC fast chargers at six of its 170 locations, with openings expected to begin in early 2027. The selected stores are among its newest and offer food, indoor and outdoor seating, and wifi.
The company applied for and received NEVI funding for all six sites, spread across Greater Cincinnati and Columbus. While exact charging speeds, connector types, port counts, and prices were not disclosed, the chargers will likely be Electric Era's 400-kW units, which combine grid electricity with onsite batteries to reduce peak demand and support charging where grid capacity is limited.
UDF says customers will be able to redeem U-Drive Plus loyalty credits toward charging and earn more through qualifying store purchases. “We’ve always believed UDF should evolve alongside our guests, and this is another step in doing that,” said Jim Dwenger, UDF’s head of retail. The company says it will announce individual opening dates and use demand and customer feedback to guide expansion.