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1983 - 1985
A Company is Born
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 STONYFIELD
FARM YOGURT
(THE COMPANY) IS BORN
We receive a $35,000 loan from the Institute for Community Economics,
including $25,000 from the Sisters of Mercy as start-up funding
for our enterprise.
 On
April 9, 1983, we produce our first 50-gallon batch of yogurt and
begin making whole milk plain yogurt for sale. It's still one of
our top sellers today!
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 In
September, Gary joins the Kaymens full-time, with the dream of turning
this smallscale yogurt company into a thriving business that will
fund The Rural Education Center while advancing its educational and
agricultural missions.
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 “Without
the Kaymen kids doing cow chores, making yogurt, shrink wrapping
orders, and getting up at all hours of the night (when they were
needed) we would not have been able to "hang in there"
in those first years.”
— Louise Kaymen
Company profile: 2 families, 7 Jersey cows, a
great recipe and a dream
Cases produced each week: 150 Annual sales:
$56,000
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WORDS TO LIVE BY
Gary drafts Stonyfield Farm's first business plan and sets out to
secure business loans, thanks to the generous assistance of his mother
and several investors who agree to co-sign our loans.
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GOODBYE LAURABELLE
With increased production demands, and after a full night of milking
the cows by hand when a storm knocks out the power, Gary, Louise
and Samuel agree it's time to sell the herd of 19 cows and begin
purchasing milk from local farmers.
Number of employees: 7
Cases produced each week: 350
Annual sales: $138,000
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We trade in the original wood-fired boiler for an
oil-fueled rig and the 2 environmentalists eat a lot of humble pie
as they enjoy the modern convenience. We add a new filler that enables
us to make yogurt in single-serving-size cups. |
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LUNCH IN A CUP
Later that year, we add more flavors to the line: Strawberry, Wild
Blueberry, Peach, Raspberry, Black Cherry and GARDEN SALAD! This
brilliant idea was supposed to put Gary's children through college.
It was a “big” hit—on the market for less than
a year!
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EARLY MARKETING
WROR's Andy Moes, Boston radio co-host of the legendary Joe and
Andy Show, said he would rather eat camel manure than yogurt. Gary
and then fiancée Meg stopped by Benson's Animal Farm
to gather camel manure en route to Boston, marched into the station
with a carefully packed quart of each and demanded that he make
the choice. We receive instant airplay.
Number of Employees: 10
Cases produced each week: 1,100
Annual sales: $317,200 |
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