Not content to sit still, Rutter's management continued to expand both the Dairy and the Farm Store operations throughout the 1970s. Warners Dairy and Ice Cream Companies were purchased in 1972. The number of Farm Stores grew by four or five each year through the decade. In 1974, Rutter's ventured into the food service industry with the opening of the original Rutter's Restaurant, located on the family farm down the road from the Dairy. Although the familiar fleet of Rutter's trucks seems like it's always been part of York's scenery, refrigerated tractor trailers were actually not put into service until 1975.

With its growth, Rutter's also developed a unique corporate style: all decisions are made by consensus of the management team—there is no CEO. During the 1970s, five companies evolved under the Rutter's name, each with a family member as president. Mike Rutter leads the operation of Rutter's Dairy, Inc. Stew Hartman is president of Rutter's Farm Stores and Jay Crist is president of Rutter's Family Restaurants. At the helm of Rutter's Ice Cream was Dale Crist, and Leo Rutter is president of M&G Realty.