Chobani has announced a major expansion to its manufacturing facility in Twin Falls, Idaho, which will be used to expand production capability to meet demand for new and existing products.
As the yogurt category and overall consumption continues to grow, Chobani is self-funding major expansion initiatives including the purchase and conversion of three production lines for its Chobani Flip brand; purchase of a new production line and bulk production line for foodservice opportunities to drive further growth in the school, hotel, airline and restaurant channels; plus the purchase of new equipment for adjacent categories such as Chobani Meze and yogurt drinks, which the company unveiled this week.
Chobani will also launch a series of products to new international markets such as Mexico and Puerto Rico during the second quarter of the year, further its mission to make better food for more people.
This latest investment will help to drive continued growth in the region, state and community, the Norwich, New York-based dairy producer added.
It commissioned the Twin Falls site in 2013, becoming Chobani’s second domestic manufacturing facility and the largest yogurt production facility in the world. The company had previously invested more than $450m to build the operation, which has a total footprint of one million square feet.
Chobani chairman and chief executive officer Hamdi Ulukaya said: “Building the largest yogurt manufacturing plant in the world and expanding it three years later is a really proud moment for us and an example of how right it was to pick Idaho as our second home. Our success in Idaho and New York is an example of the power and strength of US manufacturing. To food companies like ours, it’s a signal of the momentum of the food movement that we started: better food for more people.”
Chobani’s presence in Idaho has served as a catalyst for new jobs and continues to have a significant positive economic impact in the region, it said.
“The kind of success that Chobani is experiencing in the Magic Valley is setting a great example of regional collaboration between employers and community leaders throughout Idaho,” said the state’s governor, Butch Otter.
“And it has economic development leaders all over America standing up and taking notice of what Idaho has to offer. That’s all above and beyond the on-the-ground benefits that Chobani’s growth and proactive corporate citizenship are providing for our citizens and Idaho’s economy. I’m proud that Chobani chose Idaho and is helping us set a golden example of what it means to accelerate Idaho by moving at the speed of business.”
In addition to expansion plans in Twin Falls, the company is also exploring plans to expand its original plant in central New York.
The company currently receives up to 4m pounds of fresh milk from local farms in New York and Idaho every day and employs more than 2,000 people, boasting a 19.3% share of the overall US yogurt market.
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