Ke ;J s Da i r Long-time Reid's Dairy employee becomes retail store supervisor Reid's Dairy, in fact, does three per cent of Ontario's fluid milk production. The Intelligencer Quickert, the vice-president of marketing and Steve Dawkins smiles every time he sees someone sales said that's quite an accomplishment. "Our dairy is similar to a big operation. We have buying or eating Reid's Dairy ice cream. For the past eight years, he's been the person the same equipment but we're small enough that responsible for producing its ice cream. In fact, he we're on top of any problems that could arise. We ran the ice cream production department ever since have that small touch and that's definitely an advantage of ours," said the 26-year-old Quickert. it opened at Reid's in 1986. Reid's Dairy was founded in Belleville in 1910. Dawkins has taken that job seriously, learning all Quickert's father, Armin, and about the trade by taking various grandfather, Arthur, purchased courses, including a week-long proReid's Dairy in 1967, while it was gram at the ice cream school at Dairy diary still on Parker Street. In 1985, they University of Guelph. He's also sucmoved the operation to the current ceeded in getting his milk and I f l l t i l Bell Boulevard site and have subcream grader's licence- from sequently completed two additions, Kemptville Agricultural College including the attention-drawing and several safety course certifi^ \Armin Quicker? and castle and tower. cates. his father, Arthur, purThe dairy's 45 production and He knew that training and "hard the dairy operation management staff process fluid work" would pay off when he joined chased in 1967 when it nms situated milk, cream, ice cream and pure Reid's Dairy 20 years ago. apple and orange juice from con"Long hours don't mean much to centrates. me because I believe if you work the dairy operation "A lot of people still may not hard, you'll go somewhere," he said. momd ft) its current Belt Boule- know what we do here," said QuickIt's paid off for Dawkins, as he's vard site. They own 25-acres ert, who's brother, Stephen, is vicebeen named the supervisor for the of proper ttf the plant alone president of operations. dairy's retail store. Most of its milk is purchased "It'll be a challenge, just like tak- is; 3,500 square feetMffimi ing over the ice cream department f $M Reid's Dairy produces from local farmers. In the late 1970s, Reid's Dairy years ago. It's like starting all over fluid milk, cream, ice cream again in a new career and it's some- and pure orange and apple branched out to include its Milky Way retail outlets. There are 22 thing I'm looking forward to...I the largest itide- such stores from Kingston to Miswant to retire at Reid's Dairy," he and oper- sissauga, including the flagship said. Dawkins has literally worked ated dairy of the few that store on Bell Boulevard. through the ranks to get where he are operating in Ontario* J?etrfV account? . for three Each retail store sells strictly is today. per ::mM of Ontario ^ fluid Reid's products as well as cheese produced by its sister company, He joined Reid's at the age of 18, making milk deliveries and work- \\'/^;The dairy employs 45 Riverside Cheese, in Trenton. For the Quickerts, Reid's Dairy ing the creamer machine. Then he full and part-time staff in is more than a business. It's somejoined the "wash-up sanitation" thing they want the community to crew and helped mix vats of apple and orange juice, later on to the retail stores-' from Missis- enjoy. milk bagger machine and the milk sauga to Kingston, includConsequently, they've built a carton machine. His first big pro- j§^ijiilflagsh(p outlet at its !*d 100-foot high castle and tower for motion was as the ice cream devisitors to enjoy and draw attention partment supervisor in 1986. to their dairy. "My father, Armin, is intrigued by castles...we He's equally as excited about moving from behind the production lines and into the retail outlet as wanted to stand out and have a little bit of fun with the milk product," he said. supervisor. "I like dealing with the public and this will be the As well, the Quickerts began the "Double R ideal job. It's a whole new challenge going into the Ranch" and, every summer, visitors can see goats, marketing end of things," said Dawkins. David Quickert said it's employees like Dawkins ducks and geese. "We wanted to have some fun with the plant, who've built the family-owned dairy into what it is today -- the largest of a handful of independently- create some fun and excitement for the people in the community. I think we've done that," said Quickert. owned and operated dairies in Ontario. By Henry Bury m^Mmim^.