“[The year] 2009 was interesting, with the fact that there was a lot of unknown coming into the beginning of the year,” says John Stowell, director, fresh meats and sustainable programs for Dole and Bailey Inc. Stowell says that the Woburn, Mass.-based company started noticing the economic slide in late 2008, and it carried over into last year. In response, the company's management looked at the business and decided to look at new opportunities.
“It was good, because you can get stale if you're not constantly trying to look for new horizons,” he reasons. Dole and Bailey began a custom cutting program for some regional broadline distributors, which it had never done before. The company also made inroads into upscale retail markets, where it can produce specialized products.