Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> June 10, 2002
STEVE DEMOS is the Founder and President of White Wave, Inc. Founded in
1977, White Wave is one of the largest producers and marketers of soy
products in the US. White Wave products are sold in over 90% of the
nation's supermarkets and the Silk brand is the number one revenue-
producing soymilk in America. Mr. Demos was a founding member of the Soy
Crafters Association of North America in 1978 and its successor SANA
(Soyfoods Association of North America). He has served on the Board of
Directors for SANA and held the position of President. Mr. Demos acted
as a training consultant to the Soy Protein Utilization project between
the United States and India in 1993. In addition, he has held Board
seats on the Boulder Ballet Company and Community Food Share. He was
awarded Entrepreneur to Watch in 1977 and Entrepreneur of Distinction in
1996 by the Boulder Chamber of Commerce. White Wave was named Small
Business of the Year in 1992 and Colorado recipient of the U.S. Small
Business Administration Entrepreneurial Success 2001 award. Profile
GREGG ENGLES is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dean Foods
Company, the nation's leading dairy processor and distributor of fresh
milk and other dairy products, and a leader in the specialty foods
industry. The company operates over 120 plants in 38 US states and three
countries, and employs approximately 30,000 people. Mr. Engles founded
the company, beginning with the 1988 acquisition of the Reddy Ice
division of The Southland Corporation. The company entered the dairy
industry with the purchase of Suiza Dairy in San Juan, Puerto Rico in
1993 and completed its initial public offering in April 1996. Primarily
through an aggressive acquisition strategy, the company (formerly named
Suiza Foods Corporation) has grown from $17 million in revenues in 1988
to approximately $10 billion today. Mr. Engles obtained his
Undergraduate degree in Economics from Dartmouth College in 1979 and his
Law degree from Yale Law School in 1982. After completing law school, he
served as a law clerk to Judge Anthony Kennedy of the United States
Court of Appeals. Mr. Engles is a member of the State Bars of Texas and
Colorado. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Students
In Free Enterprise, Momentx, Evercom, Southwestern Medical Foundation
and Alliance Systems, Inc. He is also a member of the Dallas Citizens
Council, the Dallas Assembly, the Young Presidents Organization, and
serves on the Executive Committee of the Yale Law School. Profile
TWST: Could you provide us with a summary of Dean Foods' operations andbusiness?
Mr. Engles: We are the largest milk company in the world today. We' have
approximately $8 billion in dairy