Dairy giant expands New York facilities, boosts capacity and supports local farmers.
Lactalis, the world’s largest dairy company, is making a significant investment in its United States operations, injecting over $75 million into two key manufacturing facilities in New York State: Walton and Buffalo. This substantial capital infusion underscores the company’s commitment to strengthening its presence in the robust US dairy market and enhancing operational efficiencies. The move highlights the strategic importance of North America within Lactalis’s global agribusiness footprint.
The primary objective of this $75 million investment is to modernize and expand the production capabilities of both the Walton and Buffalo plants. These comprehensive upgrades will enable Lactalis to significantly boost output, particularly for high-demand dairy products such as mozzarella, sour cream, and cottage cheese. This strategic enhancement in capacity is vital for meeting growing consumer demand and maintaining a competitive edge in the dynamic dairy industry.
Beyond boosting production, these projects carry a significant employment impact for the region. The investment is set to ensure the retention of more than 800 full-time jobs across the two facilities, providing stability for hundreds of local workers. Additionally, the expansion will create over 50 new full-time positions, with at least 20 new jobs specifically at the Walton sour cream and cottage cheese plant. This job creation is a welcome development for local economies and the broader dairy community.
The expansion initiatives are also poised to provide substantial benefits for local dairy farmers. The Walton and Buffalo facilities collectively process an impressive 800 million pounds of raw milk annually, sourced directly from 236 local dairy producers. Lactalis’s investment solidifies its partnership with these farmers, ensuring continued demand for their milk and reinforcing the stability of the New York dairy supply chain. The projects are expected to be fully completed by 2027.
New York State, through its Empire State Development fund, is actively supporting these projects with significant tax credits, including $750,000 for the Walton site and $550,000 for the Buffalo plant. Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized that such collaborations between the state and leading agri-food businesses are crucial for retaining and creating good-paying jobs while fortifying New York’s position as a national leader in the dairy industry. This strategic investment by Lactalis reflects continued confidence in the US market and its long-term growth potential in dairy economics.
Source: Just Food: Lactalis boosts staff numbers in US with two factory investments
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