Companions to new pathways. Intermediary organisations and the resilience of the Frisian dairy industry, 1950–1970

Abstract

The dairy industry in Europe was faced with profound challenges in the post-war era, such as rising wage levels and increasing competition. A common response for companies was to adapt by means of scale expansion, mechanisation and automation of the production process. Between 1950 and 1970, dairy factories remained relatively small and were supported by organisations at the regional level. However, much is unknown about the contribution of regional sectoral actors to adaptation processes. By means of an in-depth analysis of the dairy processing industry in the Dutch province of Friesland, this article explores the mechanisms behind adaptation and thereby contributes to the understanding of regional economic resilience. The analysis benefits from the fields of economic geography and innovation studies, which have theorised about the role of regional actors in adaptation processes, and, in turn, illustrates how these fields can contribute to the field of business history.