DIALOGUE
The Next Big Thing
An Interview With Steve Demos,
Founder of WhiteWave and NextFoods
As the visionary who created White Wave, the largest organic and natural
soy food company in the world, Steve Demos is a living legend. With Silk,
he took soymilk from an unknown commodity to something that can now
be found in practically every dairy section right beside milk, as well as
whipped up in Starbucks soy lattes across the
country. White Wave’s success proved that
organic companies could be very profitable
while still being environmentally and socially
Buddhist philosophy that Demos built his
business model on.
Inc. for $295 million, giving away $15 million
responsible—exemplifying “right livelihood,” a
In 2002, he sold his company to Dean Foods,
to White Wave employees, from managers to
Demos at the mouth of the
Gamukh glacier, headwaters
of the Ganges River in India.
truck drivers. For several years Demos continued to manage White Wave
and then, in 2005, Dean and Demos went their separate ways.
But Demos’ story is far from over. After a self imposed “exile” or sabbatical, Demos is
back with new vision, a new company, NextFoods, and a new product—Good Belly, a
vegan, organic probiotic juice shot. He took some time to fill us in on his adventures,
inspiration and the gastrointestinal system.
