Amalgamated Dairies Ltd. (ADL) has 300 employees, but the dairy processing and distribution co-op touches so many others on PEI, it would be hard to find someone who hasn’t heard about the organization, worked on its 160 producer farms, tasted some of its products, or seen one of its 70 dairy trucks criss-crossing the Island most days. The fact that ADL has been family farm owned since 1953 plays a part in its strong reputation and visibility. Having all local operations plays another.

“ADL is part of PEI’s lifestyle,” explains Chad Mann, ADL’s CEO. “Our brand is very closely connected to the community – it’s how we identify ourselves.”

Storing and processing milk and milk products locally and using local trucks for distribution means Chad can pay as much as he can for milk from PEI farms, which helps support rural businesses in the province, making it a pivotal component in the Island’s economy. And revenues are reinvested into new equipment and infrastructure so ADL can keep helping make those farms profitable and sustainable.

Innovation is also key. ADL has expanded its products to include ingredient-based lines where dairy is one, but not the only component. It’s something Chad sees as an important new direction for the co-op – just one way for the dairy industry to keep adapting.

“The market is changing constantly,” says Chad. “We have to adapt our processes and business models and get used to the idea of change.

Further reading

ADL is part of the lifestyle on PEI. Our brand is very closely connected to the population on PEI – it’s how we identify ourselves.

Chad Mann
CEO, Amalgamated Dairies Ltd.

 

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