Muller Quaker Dairy, a joint venture between PepsiCo Inc. and Theo Muller Group, opened its new state-of-the-art yogurt manufacturing facility in Batavia, N.Y., on Monday. The new facility, which will employ approximately 180 people, will serve as a national production and distribution center for Muller yogurt, which launched in select regional markets in 2012.
The facility opening was celebrated by U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer, PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi, Theo Muller Group owner Theo Muller and various New York state and local officials.
“PepsiCo continues to perform at an extremely high level while simultaneously transforming our portfolio for the future and strengthening our position in high-growth food and beverage categories. We have invested over many years to expand our global nutrition offerings in ways that allow us to capitalize on new growth opportunities, and the new Muller Quaker Dairy facility demonstrates continued progress against this key business priority,” said PepsiCo’s Nooyi. “The Theo Muller Group is a tremendous partner whose deep dairy expertise has allowed our joint venture to enter the U.S. market with a delicious product that our consumers absolutely love. Thanks to the support of Sen. Schumer and other leaders at the state and local levels, Muller Quaker Dairy has found a great home here in Batavia.”
“I am thrilled to be here in Batavia as PepsiCo and the Theo Muller Group open one of the country’s largest yogurt production facilities. The Muller Quaker Dairy operation will massively benefit New York’s dairy producers and it has helped to make New York State the nation’s yogurt capital,” said Schumer. “I have long fought to provide communities throughout New York, like Genesee County, with the federal resources and infrastructure they need to land new jobs and attract new employers. This event speaks to what those efforts can achieve. The future is bright here at the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park, where I know that Muller Quaker Dairy and other companies, can grow, create jobs and thrive.”
“Expanding our brand from Europe to the U.S. has been a long-time goal,” said Theo Muller. “We are proud to partner with PepsiCo on this important business venture and we look forward to years of success in this country.”
As the fastest-growing dairy category in the U.S., yogurt is a $6.2 billion industry that continues to climb, a news release says. Muller Quaker Dairy will help satisfy increasing demand for value-added dairy products in the U.S., where per-capita consumption of yogurt is generally less than half that of Europe.
The more than 350,000-s.f. facility will have three production lines initially, which can produce more than 120,000 cups of yogurt per hour. The facility can accommodate up to eight production lines with room for future expansion. The company is targeting LEED certification for the facility, which would make it the largest LEED-certified dairy manufacturing plant in the world.
The facility sits on 82 acres of land in what has become one of the most concentrated milk producing and processing regions in the country. Muller Quaker Dairy will source milk for the yogurt products locally. Products manufactured at the plant will include Muller Corner, Muller Greek Corner and Muller FrutUp varieties.
During Monday’s ceremony, Schumer, Nooyi and Theo Muller opened a giant ceremonial Muller Corner Crunchy Granola, led a collective Muller FrutUp yogurt toast and officially unveiled the Muller Quaker Dairy building sign to mark the grand opening of the facility. They were joined by state and local government and community dignitaries, Batavia community representatives, members of local and national dairy organizations and employees.
In the featured photo at top: U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, second from right, joins PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, right, on a tour of the new Muller Quaker Dairy facility.
