USA: Chobani announces $100 million factory investment
Chobani, the Greek yoghurt specialist, has announced plans to incrementally invest $100 million to expand capacity at its plant in Twin Falls, ID, USA, as the company looks to diversify its product range into new areas.
According to a report in Food Business News, the investment includes the purchase and conversion of three production lines, as well as a new bulk production line for foodservice. The move will enable the company to begin manufacture of its recently-announced greek yoghurt drinks and greek yoghurt based savoury dips.
Commenting on the investment in a statement, Chobani chairman and CEO 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 U.S. 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".
In further announcements, Chobani said it would also construct a global research and development facility for its existing Twin Falls scientific team. Meanwhile its distribution plans include launching products from the facility to new international markets including Mexico and Puerto Rico in the second quarter of the year.
Source: Times News / Food Business News