Podcasts / The BizSTL Podcast / BizSTL Podcast: Ole Tyme Produce’s president and CEO Joan Daleo

BizSTL Podcast: Ole Tyme Produce’s president and CEO Joan Daleo

Daleo discusses the challenges and triumphs of transforming a family business, lessons learned along the way, and what it takes to lead a business into a new era of growth and innovation.

In this episode, host Mike Miller chats with Ole Tyme Produce‘s president and CEO Joan Daleo. For more than 50 years, Ole Tyme Produce has been a St. Louis mainstay in the food distribution business. But when the pandemic arrived and the restaurant industry froze, Ole Tyme Produce reached a pivot point. It was up to Daleo and her team to come up with creative new ways to diversify revenue streams—and quick. Over the last few years, the business has enjoyed fascinating growth. Hear how Deleo oversaw a reimagining of the business in real time, some of the lessons she learned, and what it takes to inherit a family business and lead it into a new era of growth and innovation. Listen and follow The BizSTL Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever podcasts are available.

“Putting that kind of pressure builds something strong. And I used to say about our team post–COVID: teams forged in fire create steel.”


This episode is sponsored by Royal Banks of Missouri.

For sixty years, Royal Banks of Missouri has been proud to be your local community bank. Set your business up for success with their treasury management specialists. Visit royalbanksofmo.com to learn more about their business banking options.

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About The Host

Mike Miller

Mike Miller

Mike Miller is St. Louis Magazine’s associate editor, covering business, news, and sports, and is the editor of SLM’s Business and CITY SCene newsletters. He previously wrote for publications such as the Bloomington Herald-Times, Vox/SB Nation, Public Opinion, and the Baltimore Sun, and served as an adjunct instructor at Indiana University’s Media School. You can reach him via email at [email protected].