Case Studies Region: Southwest

Brian Lock wasn’t even old enough to buy beer the day he and his dad were looking at a grocery store display case in Portland, Oregon. But as the elder Lock decided what to buy, Brian was fascinated by one choice—Full Sail Amber Ale. Amongst the other sudsy selections, this one stood out because it […]

In the 1988 comedy classic “Coming to America,” Eddie Murphy’s character is an African prince who moves to the U.S. to find a bride. While living in Queens, he gets a job at a fast-food restaurant because he wants to be treated like a regular person and not as the heir to the throne of […]

A sprinkle of praline caramel pecans atop a scoop of fresh strawberry ice cream can strike the perfect balance between salty and sweet, crunchy and smooth, on a hot summer’s day—or even a chilly winter’s one. J.C. Brigham had the same idea over 70 years ago when he started making not only ice cream, but […]

Whether customers call it fast food or good food quickly—#Seinfeld reference—the mission and goal for Ali Dhanani and the employees of his company is the same: is to ensure that each guest receives prompt, professional and friendly service. “Our employees and our customers are the cornerstones of the business,” says Dhanani, the owner, president and […]

With apologies to Sting, there’s quite the message in a bottle—or can—when it comes to Kohana Coffee. It’s about sustainability and promoting gender equality in the Central American countries from where the bulk of its beans are provided, says its very personable and passionate chief executive officer and founder. It’s also about the specialty cold-brew […]

Growing up in Chicago’s suburbs, Robert Chesler was a world away from the lush green pastures dotted with herds of lowing cattle that would later define his career. In fact, for many years, his only connection to dairy cows was the milk carton in the fridge that he poured over a bowl of Cheerios. Abandoning […]

Founded in 2009 by dairy industry veterans Mark Boytim and Steve Cooper, Continental Dairy Facilities LLC (CDF) is a dairy processing company with facilities in both Michigan and Texas. As a member of the country’s fifth-largest dairy cooperative, Select Milk Producers, CDF processes produ Located at a 270,000-square-foot former General Motors plant in Coopersville, Michigan, […]