A major Greek yogurt brand is making a significant investment in Pennsylvania.
On Tuesday, Sept. 1, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced that Chobani is planning a $1.2 billion dairy production facility in Allentown. The investment will create about 900 jobs over five years and anchor a major expansion of the state’s dairy capacity.
When operational in 2027, the plant is expected to process more than three billion pounds of Pennsylvania milk annually. That’s approximately 30% of the state’s total milk production and the largest increase in dairy demand in Pennsylvania’s history.
“I’ve spent a lot of time on our farms and in our rural communities, hearing directly from Pennsylvanians about the kind of investments they want to see in our Commonwealth. This $1.2 billion investment from Chobani is the largest private sector investment in the history of Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry and will strengthen our dairy industry, support our farmers, and reinforce our position as a national leader in agriculture and food manufacturing,” Shapiro said in a news release shared with NBC10.
“Pennsylvania is home to one of the highest numbers of family-owned farms in the country. When we walked into this factory, we knew it was a great fit for what we want to build for the future,” said Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani, in a statement within the release.
Allentown’s location offers another substantial advantage for Chobani. The facility is within 500 miles of approximately 40% of the U.S. population. It offers access to some of the country’s largest consumer markets, according to the release.
In addition to Allentown, Chobani is investing in a new dairy processing facility in Rome, New York. It is also expanding its manufacturing operation in Twin Falls, Idaho; upgrading its original production site in New Berlin, New York; and expanding its Norton Shores, Michigan, facility, which manufactures La Colombe beverages.
