NAICS 311514

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal statistical standard for grouping business establishments to collect, analyze, and publish data on the U.S. economy. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget with Canada and Mexico, NAICS replaced the SIC in 1997 and is updated on a five-year cycle; the most current vintage is 2022. ¹
U.S. industry 311514 covers establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing dry, condensed, and evaporated milk and dairy substitute products. Cross-references place canned milk, ultra-high-temperature (UHT) milk, dry mix whipped toppings, and ice cream/ice milk mixes within this code; fluid milk, creamery butter, cheese, and finished frozen desserts are classified elsewhere. ²

What this NAICS covers

• Manufacturing of dry milk products and other powdered dairy items. ²
• Manufacturing of condensed and evaporated milk (including canned milk). ²
• Manufacturing of dairy substitute products in dry, condensed, or evaporated forms. ²
• Manufacturing of ultra-high-temperature (UHT) milk classified under this industry. ²
• Manufacturing of dry mix whipped toppings. ²
• Manufacturing of ice cream and ice milk mixes (not the finished frozen desserts). ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Boundary and cross‑references (official scope notes)

• Fluid milk products are classified in 311511. ²
• Creamery butter is classified in 311512. ²
• Cheese products are classified in 311513. ²
• Finished frozen dairy desserts are classified in 311520; ice cream/ice milk mixes fall under 311514. ²
• Frozen whipped toppings are classified in 311412. ²
• Canned puddings are classified in 311999. ²

NAPCS linkages for this NAICS

• Dry milk products and mixtures (2022 NAPCS 11101030101) align with outputs typically produced under 311514. ⁴
• Dairy product substitutes (2022 NAPCS 11101030108) correspond to substitute products manufactured in dry, condensed, or evaporated forms under 311514. ⁴
• Ice cream and related products (2022 NAPCS 11101030106) are product categories; manufacturing of mixes is in 311514, while frozen dessert production is in 311520. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What activities define NAICS 311514?
  Establishments in 311514 primarily manufacture dry, condensed, and evaporated milk and dairy substitute products. Official cross-references explicitly include canned milk, UHT milk, dry mix whipped toppings, and ice cream/ice milk mixes, while excluding fluid milk, butter, cheese, and finished frozen desserts. ²

• How does 311514 differ from 311511, 311512, and 311513?
  311511 covers fluid milk; 311512 covers creamery butter; 311513 covers cheese. Dry, condensed, and evaporated products (including UHT and canned milk), dairy substitutes, dry mix whipped toppings, and ice cream/ice milk mixes are in 311514. ²

• Are ice cream or ice milk mixes part of 311514?
  Yes. Ice cream and ice milk mixes are placed in 311514, while production of finished frozen desserts (e.g., ice cream, frozen custard) is classified in 311520. ²

• Does 311514 include plant-based dairy substitutes?
  Yes, when manufactured as dry, condensed, or evaporated dairy substitute products. The industry definition for 311514 explicitly includes dairy substitutes alongside milk products, regardless of whether they are animal- or plant-based, as long as they meet the form criteria. ²

• Which PSC commonly aligns to buys in this space?
  PSC 8910 “Dairy Foods and Eggs” frequently covers dairy items for federal procurement and lists ice cream mixes, sherbets, and ices among included products. It is a broad product category that maps to multiple dairy-related NAICS, including 311514. ³

Useful resources

• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS industry page for 311514 (definition and cross-references). ²
• Census 2022 Guidance — Understanding NAICS (structure, use, and 2022 vintage). ¹
• 2022 NAPCS Structure — Food and dairy product categories linked to NAICS industries. ⁴
• Acquisition.gov — PSC Manual (scope for PSC 8910 Dairy Foods and Eggs). ³

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — About Industry: NAICS background, OMB role, and 1997–2022 updates. https://www.census.gov/topics/employment/industry-occupation/about/industry.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 2022 Industry 311514: Dry, Condensed, and Evaporated Dairy Product Manufacturing (definition and cross-references). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=311514&year=2022&details=311514
3. U.S. General Services Administration — Product and Service Code Manual (April 2025). https://origin-www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
4. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAPCS Structure: Food, beverage, and tobacco products. https://www.census.gov/naics/napcs/sections/section11.html