2002 – Dean’s dairy rode soymilk’s WhiteWave

BOULDER — Some called it a brilliant business decision that would give WhiteWave Inc. opportunities for exponential growth. Others accused the company of having crawled into bed with the enemy. Either way, the 2002 acquisition of the Boulder-based maker of soybean-based foods and beverages by dairy giant Dean Foods Co. was sure to shake up the soy foods industry.

WhiteWave gained access to Dean’s worldwide manufacturing, processing and distribution network. One beverage analyst predicted WhiteWave would see sales of its popular Silk refrigerated soymilk grow at an annual rate of 30 percent to 50 percent.

While high growth may be a…