Chobani, the Greek yogurt giant, is making its largest facility investment in history by spending $1.2 billion on a new dairy processing plant in upstate New York. The 1.4 million square-foot facility in Rome, New York, will be Chobani’s third dairy processing plant in the U.S., expected to create over 1,000 full-time jobs. The project is set to be completed by the end of 2026, according to a company spokesperson.
“New York is where Chobani’s journey began. It was the perfect spot to start Chobani 20 years ago, and it’s the perfect place to continue our story,” said Hamdi Ulukaya, Chobani’s founder and CEO.
The new plant will have the capacity to produce more than 1 billion pounds of dairy products annually, with 28 production lines processing around 12 million pounds of milk per day. Chobani currently purchases over 1 billion pounds of raw milk from New York dairy farms each year, a number expected to increase to 6 billion pounds annually once the new plant reaches full capacity.
While known for its Greek yogurt, Chobani has expanded its offerings to include zero sugar and high protein options, as well as oat milk, creamers, and ready-to-drink coffee following its $900 million acquisition of La Colombe in 2023.
The investment in the new plant is aimed at meeting the increasing product demand and allowing for future innovations, as stated by a Chobani spokesperson.
In addition to the New York plant, Chobani recently announced a $500 million expansion of its Twin Falls, Idaho facility by 50%, expected to add 160 new jobs and increase production capacity. The demand for yogurt has been on the rise, especially with the popularity of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, leading to increased sales for companies like Danone and their Greek yogurt brand Oikos.