Oakhurst CEO Stan Bennett dies
Stanley Bennett II, chairman and CEO of Portland-based Oakhurst Dairy, has died after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Bennett, 64, became president of Oakhurst in 1983 when his father retired and expanded the company through acquisitions of smaller milk processors, according to the Portland Press Herald. He also led it through its battle with agribusiness giant Monsanto Corp., which sued Oakhurst in 2003 over its label stating the milk is free of artificial growth hormones. The companies ultimately settled, and Oakhurst added a disclaimer stating the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's position that growth hormones produce no "significant difference."
Bennett was active in many agricultural initiatives in the state, and in 2009 offered to help distribute Maine's Own Organic Milk Co. products to help a group of small organic dairy farmers. He was also known for his community involvement, supporting groups like the Friends of Casco Bay and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine. Oakhurst donates 10% of its proceeds to local organizations that support children and the environment, and is a national industry leader in the use of clean energy; the company's trucks run on biodiesel, and solar panels on its processing facility heat water and generate power, according to the paper.
In 2006, Bennett was Mainebiz's Business Leader of the Year.
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