The name on the shelf might have changed, but the legacy of quality backing every Coleman Dairy product has come standard for 164 years and counting. Eleithet B. Coleman started the first milk delivery route in Little Rock in 1862, laying a foundation that five generations of the Coleman family have since built upon. The oldest operation of its kind west of the Mississippi River, Coleman Dairy was also the first dairy to pasteurize milk in Arkansas.
“Our high-quality products and exceptional service set us apart,” said General Manager Mike Flagg, who came to Little Rock in 2001 with the goal of merging Coleman Dairy with Gold Star Dairy and has been with the company ever since.
Coleman Dairy has grown in and alongside the community it serves, acquiring competitors across Arkansas over the course of several decades. The company was itself acquired by Hiland Dairy Foods in 2006, celebrating 150 years before changing its name in 2013 to stay consistent across the Hiland brand. As it looks to the future, Flagg said Hiland will continue working to stay abreast of an evolving industry and changing dietary preferences.
“We are evolving with the new high protein, low sugar, clean label trend,” he said. “Dairy is perfect for the dietary guidelines. We are committed to providing the best dairy foods for our community.”
Flagg said one of his favorite parts of working at Hiland Dairy Foods is experiencing firsthand the honesty and dedication of the Hiland team. Quality and consistency are truly the hallmarks of the company, and that applies to personnel just as much as the lineup of dairy products it puts out. Employees are like family, he said, and many stick with the company all the way until retirement.
“The company philosophy is, ‘Do what is right,’” Flagg said. “We instill this with all employees. Do what is right in all aspects of your life. You will never go wrong holding yourself to this standard. It is a joy working with people that share this philosophy.”
Hiland Dairy has three processing facilities in Arkansas and employs 500 people between Little Rock, Fort Smith and Fayetteville. More than providing jobs and quality products, however, the dairy’s legacy in the Natural State has also been one of giving back to people and communities. The company has been a steadfast supporter of a number of family-oriented organizations and causes, such as the Little Rock Zoo, Ronald McDonald House and Arkansas Foodbank, among others.
Coleman Dairy was also a founding member of the Little Rock Executives’ Association, itself one of the longest-lived and most successful business associations of its kind in Arkansas since 1974. LREA’s focus on mutual support and uplifting local businesses dovetails with Hiland Dairy Foods’ continued commitment to its Arkansas community, and Flagg said membership in the group has kept the company grounded and connected in central Arkansas.
“The members are loyal to Hiland and we are loyal to using the services of the other members,” he said. “The networking is a tremendous advantage when we need help. We love helping the other members when we are called upon.”
6901 Interstate 30, Little Rock
501-748-1700
Year founded: 1862
Years in business: 164
Number of employees: 500 (Arkansas)
Years in LREA: 52
With roots going back more than a century and a half, Coleman Dairy has set the standard for Arkansas business excellence and continues to uphold a reputation for quality as Hiland Dairy Foods.
