ADL's formation in 1953 consolidated several community dairies into a single Island-wide processor to centralize milk collection and processing. Over the decades it expanded beyond fluid milk and butter into cheddar and specialty cheeses, as well as shelf-stable evaporated and sweetened condensed milk. In 2016 ADL introduced the Dairy Isle brand to sell outside Prince Edward Island, later distributed nationally by
Walmart Canada. A local newspaper reported that Dairy Isle products won awards including first place at the British Empire Cheese Show. A major expansion of the Summerside cheese plant was completed in 2018. A federal press release in 2025 announced up to $12 million in funding to further increase processing capacity at the plant. A 2025 news report noted that ADL was expanding capacity while monitoring U.S.
trade developments affecting dairy. Several media outlets also covered product changes, including long-time ADL ice-cream flavours being discontinued in P.E.I. store freezers. == Production and distribution ==