Beverage maker Coca-Cola Canada recently wrapped up work on its new CAD$85 million (about $65.3 million) dairy plant in Peterborough, ON that will increase its production of premium, ultra-filtered milk, the firm announced in a recent release.
Milk processed at the site will be completely sourced from Canadian farmers and sold in the country under the fairlife brand. Coca-Cola uses a proprietary ultrafiltration process to concentrate protein and remove about half of the natural sugars. The end product is lactose-free with 50% less sugar and 50% more protein compared to conventional milk.\
“We know Canadians are seeking products that support their health and wellness goals, including beverages with less sugar and more nutritional benefits,” Darlene Nicosia, president and chief executive officer of Coca-Cola Ltd. said in a statement. “Naturally, when The Coca-Cola Company began its partnership with fairlife in the US, we started building a plan to bring this great-tasting, nutritious milk to Canadians.”
Coca-Cola Canada commenced construction on the Peterborough facility in 2018. 30 workers have been hired as the facility goes into operation and the company intends to create 10 to 20 additional positions at the site in the coming years.
“This has been a labor of love for the past three years, as we’ve worked diligently to build a robust local supply chain for Canadian dairy in collaboration with the Dairy Farmers of Ontario,” said Carolyn Novick, director of fairlife, in the release. “Constructing an $85 million facility is no small feat. We’ve gone through extensive processes to test and qualify our equipment to ensure we are producing the highest quality, great-tasting milk that Canadians know and expect.”
The first bottles of fairlife milk were produced at the facility this September.
