Old is the New, New
Older Utah Company Still Innovating (Connect Magazine)
3/3/2006
By Jeff Vanek, Connect Magazine
When one talks about companies that are cutting-edge innovators, one often thinks of newer, high-tech companies. It’s easy to do, with all the hype and hoopla these companies generate. Yet, there are many companies that have been around for a while that are leading innovators in their respective markets. In fact, it has been their constant innovating over the years that has kept them around. It has been said that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. The fact of the matter is, some old dogs never stop crafting new tricks.
The four Utah companies featured in this article were selected by connect’s reader-comprised editorial board. All are good examples of mature companies (each have been around from 20 years to 125 years) still driven to innovate. Each has an interesting story of how innovation has allowed them to continue to satisfy the needs of their customers through the years.
 Winder Farms
When it comes to products, you don’t get much older than dairy products. Cows have been domesticated for thousands of years. So, how does a 125-year-old family dairy innovate? By expanding the products it offers and updating production and business processes.
In 2004, West Valley City-based Winder Dairy partnered with the private equity firms of Dolphin II and Peterson Partners to bring in a fresh infusion of capital. The family dairy wanted to expand its offerings.
“We provide a great service and product to our customers. We want to provide even better service by offering more farm-fresh items right to their door. Expanding our product line was a part of our vision, as well as reaching more people,” says Mike Winder, vice president of marketing, and a sixth-generation member of the family to be involved in the business. As part of the new focus, the business changed its name from Winder Dairy to Winder Farms.
These days, it would be best to think of Winder Farms as a farmers’ market on wheels, one that comes right to your door with the freshest dairy and produce. Milk and dairy products like butter and cottage cheese are still a main offering of Winder Farms. Using a special processing technique handed down from generation to generation, customers get great-tasting milk at their doorsteps within 24 hours of it being milked from the cow. For several years now, freshly baked goods have also been available to customers. The recent change in focus from being primarily a home-delivery dairy to a home-delivery farmers’ market has meant a greatly expanded line of products.
Besides milk, freshly squeezed orange juice, lemonade and other juices are offered. In August of 2005, Winder Farms launched a line of produce that includes such offerings as Fuji and Gala apples, grapefruit, grapes, oranges and even prepared salad bowls. In October fresh vegetables including tomatoes, Utah yellow onions, and russet potatoes were added to the product list. Winder Farms will also add seasonal produce as it becomes available, such as strawberries and raspberries in the summer. During the 2005 holiday season, Winder delivered free-range turkeys and hardwood-smoked hams.
Winder Farms is also changing the way it does business. Today’s innovations include a Web site that enables customers to place and manage their product orders online. The company is also looking at new technologies in order to increase productivity. Some of these technologies include scanners and barcodes on products, as well as route optimization software and handheld devices for delivery vehicle drivers.
It just goes to show that even the oldest businesses have to keep up with technology to compete. When they do, everyone benefits, especially the customer.
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