Lactalis invests $75M to expand dairy manufacturing facilities in New York
Lactalis USA has announced plans to expand its dairy manufacturing facilities in Walton and Buffalo, New York. The company, which produces popular dairy products under brands like Breakstone’s and Galbani, is investing more than $75 million into the project and will create more than 50 new jobs while retaining over 800 full-time positions.
The Walton facility at 261 Delaware Street will receive a $15 million modernization to automate and expand its sour cream and cottage cheese production lines. The upgrades will improve efficiency and sustainability, increase output by 30%, and create more than 20 new jobs. Updates to the plant will include new fillers, HEPA air filtration systems, advanced laboratory equipment, boiler upgrades, new roofing, and other facility improvements.
In Buffalo, the facility at 2375 South Park Avenue will undergo a $60 million expansion to support increased production of Galbani Ricotta, Mozzarella, and Provolone cheeses. Enhancements include six 50,000-pound vats, a new cheese belt, separators, silos, and a robotic palletizer. Building remodeling will also relocate the cheese lab and enable the plant to increase mozzarella and provolone production by 37 million pounds annually. Ricotta production will also grow, supported by new energy-efficient technology.
Combined, the plants process over 800 million pounds of raw milk annually from 236 local dairy farms. Empire State Development is providing $750,000 in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits for the Walton project and $550,000 for the Buffalo project in exchange for Lactalis' commitments to job creation and retention. Both projects are expected to be completed by 2027.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Esteve Torrens, CEO, Lactalis USA, said, “Lactalis has two plants in New York State that are key to our growing business in the United States. Our Buffalo plant is home to a significant ricotta and mozzarella production under the Galbani brand. Our Walton plant continues a rich tradition since 1882 of producing Breakstone’s Sour Cream and is essential to strengthening our cottage cheese business in a rapidly growing category. We are committed to supporting the communities of Buffalo and Walton as we continue to grow in those markets and we thank Gov. Hochul and ESD for their support.”
Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York, added, “New York will continue to work with businesses in the agri-food sectors as they expand and grow to ensure good-paying jobs remain in our communities. By investing in the Lactalis USA facilities and assisting with improvements, New York is retaining hundreds of jobs and adding new jobs, as well as helping to support the region’s dairy farmers.”
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