The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

The Coca-Cola Company has revealed plans to build a new Fairlife production facility in New York, with a total estimated investment of $650 million. The announcement was made by Governor Kathy Hochul who expects the 745,000-square-foot facility to create up to 250 new jobs. The facility is planned to be built in the town of Webster, Monroe County. Fairlife creates products using an ultrafiltered milk process. During the process, lactose and sugar are removed from the milk, making room for a larger protein and calcium content within its products. The ultrafiltration process is also said to give the milk a longer shelf life. Founded in 2012, Fairlife offers a variety of products, including Core Power protein shakes and Fairlife Nutrition Plan meal replacement shakes. Governor Hochul commented: “This decision by Fairlife to expand their operations in Monroe County marks the next chapter in New York’s agricultural success story. New York’s dairy industry serves as a crucial economic engine for our state and this $650 million investment from Fairlife will create jobs and drive economic impact.” She added: “We were in tough competition with other states for what will be the largest dairy processing plant in the Northeast and this decision, which comes on the heels of investments from major companies like Micron and Li-Cycle, confirms that New York continues to offer a competitive business environment.” The Coca-Cola Company has been a strategic partner to Fairlife since it was launched and through to the company’s full acquisition of it in 2020. Fairlife CEO Tim Doelman said: “Consumer demand for Fairlife products is at an all-time high, and a new production facility will allow us to significantly increase capacity and deliver Fairlife to even more households across the country”. He continued: “As we continue to grow in the Northeast, Webster’s proximity and access to best-in-class dairy farmers make it an excellent location to support our next phase of growth in the region and beyond. We are sincerely grateful for the collaboration from Governor Hochul and her administration throughout this process.” Coca-Cola expects to break ground on the project this autumn, subject to appropriate approvals and final diligence. The facility is slated to be operational by Q4 of 2025.