David Phillips, Chief Editor

But the odds were actually in favor of Boston's hometown dairy company being recognized by Dairy Foods twice in three years. The Red Sox beat the odds by a mile. HP Hood was simply the odds-on favorite for our Processor of the Year.

No other company in the dairy industry has had so many different stories to tell in the past three years. Hood continues to grow through the business acumen of the Kaneb family, and continues to find its place in the evolving national food marketplace. It continues to offer innovative products, some of them anticipating major changes in consumer trends, some of them aimed at exploiting what might be referred to as large niche opportunities.

More than 150 years after it was founded as a milk delivery route, HP Hood is still deeply rooted in Boston, and still closely identified with New England. Hood is supportive of the New England communities it does business in, and it is active in dairy industry organizations.

Three years ago the company was reaping the benefits of its investment in a state-of the-art plant and had just inked a licensing deal to become a coast-to-coast marketer of Lactaid, one of those large niche brands. This year it has simply consummated the acquisition of Crowley and Kemps, continued the roll out its Carb Countdown product line, and forged a partnership with Stonyfield Farm that will allow it to re-enter the organic milk market.

We are thrilled that Blue Ridge Paper nominated Hood for this year's recognition, and that we received a consensus from our editorial advisory board. Congratulations to HP Hood!

Processor of the Year Criteria

• Financial and management success.
• Market leadership (including new product development, marketing and innovations that spur the industry).
• Industry service.
• Commitment to quality.

Past Recipients of Dairy Foods' Processor of the Year