News Summary
Lactalis USA has announced a $75 million investment to upgrade dairy facilities in Buffalo and Walton, New York. The initiative, confirmed by Governor Kathy Hochul, aims to modernize operations, preserve over 800 jobs, and create 50 new positions. The Walton plant will receive $15 million for automation and production enhancements, while the Buffalo plant will undergo a $60 million expansion to increase cheese production capacity. The upgrades, expected by 2027, will aid local dairy farmers with increased milk purchases worth over $180 million annually.
Buffalo, New York — Lactalis USA has announced a significant investment of over $75 million aimed at upgrading and expanding its dairy facilities in Buffalo and Walton, New York. This initiative, confirmed by Governor Kathy Hochul, is designed to modernize dairy processing operations while also preserving and creating jobs within the agricultural food sector. The investment is expected to retain more than 800 full-time jobs and generate over 50 new positions across both facilities.
The plans for the Walton plant, located in Delaware County, include a $15 million investment to enhance and automate production lines specifically for cottage cheese and sour cream. Key improvements at this facility involve the installation of new fillers, HEPA air filtration systems, advanced laboratory equipment, roofing renovations, and boiler upgrades. With these enhancements, the Walton plant aims for a 30% increase in production capacity, which will create over 20 additional jobs.
Lactalis produces Breakstone’s sour cream at the Walton facility, which boasts a long operational history dating back to 1882. Meanwhile, the Buffalo plant will benefit from a more substantial $60 million expansion. This expansion includes the installation of six 50,000-pound vats, a new cheese belt, separators, silos, and a robotic pelletizer. Currently, the Buffalo facility produces a range of cheeses, including Galbani ricotta, mozzarella, and provolone. The anticipated upgrades are projected to enhance mozzarella and provolone production by an impressive 37 million pounds annually.
As part of this investment, Lactalis USA will receive approximately $1.3 million in tax credits from the Excelsior Jobs Program, with $750,000 allotted for the Walton project and $550,000 for the Buffalo project. Both facilities are set to complete their respective upgrades and expansions by the year 2027.
New York’s dairy industry is the state’s largest agricultural sector, placing fifth in the nation for milk production while leading in yogurt, cottage cheese, and sour cream outputs. Lactalis USA processes over 800 million pounds of milk annually, sourcing from 236 local dairy farmers. The company’s investment is also expected to bolster local dairy farmers significantly by committing to purchase more than $180 million worth of milk each year.
Across the United States, Lactalis employs around 4,000 individuals and is a subsidiary of the Lactalis Group, the world’s largest dairy corporation based in France. The company’s commitment to expanding its operations in New York not only signifies a substantial economic boost for the local community but also a reinforcement of the vital dairy sector in the region.
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Lactalis USA Invests Over $75 Million in New York Expansion
Lactalis USA Invests $75 Million in New York Dairy Facilities
Additional Resources
- Times Union
- Wikipedia: Dairy Farming in the US
- MSN Money
- Google Search: Lactalis USA investment
- Spectrum Local News
- Google Scholar: Dairy Processing Investments
- WKBW
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Lactalis Group
- GlobeNewswire
- Google News: Lactalis Walton Plant
Author: STAFF HERE NEW YORK WRITER
NEW YORK STAFF WRITER The NEW YORK STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENewYork.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in New York, the five boroughs, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as New York Fashion Week, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Tribeca Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and United Way of New York, plus leading businesses in finance and media that power the local economy such as JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Bloomberg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBuffalo.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into New York's dynamic landscape.
