Hart Dairy Partners With Island Ventures to Grow Supply Chain and Support Innovation

Staff Report From Augusta CEO

Thursday, April 2nd, 2020

Hart Dairy, the ethically driven, largest single-source producer of 100% free-range, grass-fed milk in America, is proud to announce their new partnership with Island Ventures, a top national supplier of specialty eggs. Island Ventures will support logistics, supply chain management and innovation as Hart Dairy continues its expansion of better-for-you milk products across the country and around the globe.

Justin Whaley, Island Ventures’ Chief Executive Officer, will also join Hart Dairy as the newest member of their board to provide strategic counsel and support the trajectory of the company’s premium product advancement. Island Ventures is considered a founder of the specialty egg category with a proven history of supply for some of the country’s largest retail partners and the annual distribution of more than four billion eggs nationwide.

“I am delighted to announce our partnership with Justin Whaley and Island Ventures,” said Tim Connell, Chief Executive Officer for Hart Dairy. "With more than two decades of retail experience, they are an ideal fit to support logistics for Hart Dairy as we continue to grow and serve our national and international footprint. Justin has built a world-class company, and his experience and guidance as a successful entrepreneur will be invaluable to our board as we remain committed to serving our retailers, customers and happy cows.”

“We have been interested in the dairy sector for a number of years and believe Tim’s vision for the direction of milk and dairy is identical to our own,” said Justin Whaley, Chief Executive Officer for Island Ventures. “By vertically integrating their farms with their new $150 million bottling facility, we recognize that Hart Dairy is a company that controls its direction from farm to table. We are excited to assist in providing the logistic function for Hart Dairy as we oversee and manage its retail footprint to more than 60,000 stores during the next 36 months. Like Tim, we believe in the future of a more ethical and sustainable milk in this country and its great need for innovation. Their new ESL (Extended Shelf Life) plant is representative of what is needed to succeed, and I am glad that we can be part of this journey.”