Upstate Niagara Cooperative announced today that they have completed their acquisition of a yogurt plant located at the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park in Batavia, NY. The Western New York based dairy cooperative had signed a purchase agreement on February 28th to buy the facility from Climb Your Mountain, Inc., in a transaction facilitated by Harry Davis & Company.
“We’re very excited to have finalized our purchase of this manufacturing plant in Batavia,” stated Larry Webster, CEO of Upstate Niagara Cooperative. “As a dairy cooperative owned by farm families throughout the region, this acquisition is located central to our member milk supply. This production ready facility is only a few years old and represents an investment by our member owners towards continued and long-term growth for our cooperative. We look forward to adding manufacturing jobs within the Genesee County community while offering additional products and manufacturing capabilities to our customers.”
Exact plans regarding when the plant will re-open and what products will be manufactured at the facility have yet to be announced.
The Upstate Niagara Cooperative is continuing to work with Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) on this project. In the last decade, dairy products manufacturing companies have invested more than $500 million into facilities in the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park and Genesee County has more than 1,500 acres of shovel-ready sites to accommodate additional growth in the dairy, food and beverage industry.
“The Genesee County Economic Development Center is pleased that the Upstate Niagara Cooperative is strengthening their investment into producing excellent products and great careers at the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park,” said Steve Hyde, President and CEO of the GCEDC. “With our tradition of agriculture and strong farm families, as well as our infrastructure assets, shovel-ready sites, and workforce talent, Genesee County is truly a dairy, food and beverage powerhouse.”
The Upstate Niagara Cooperative and its members were recognized earlier this year by the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce as their 2019 Agricultural Organization of the Year.
About Upstate Niagara Cooperative
Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is a farmer-owned cooperative of 327 dairy farms throughout Western New York dedicated to producing, manufacturing and distributing high-quality, fresh and delicious dairy products. Products offered by the Cooperative include milk, flavored milk, ice cream mix, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, refrigerated dips, and Italian cheeses. Our farmers take pride in our organization and work hard every day to provide the best-tasting dairy products marketed under the Upstate Farms®, Bison®, Intense Milk®, and Valley Farms® brands along with our partners’ brands. Upstate Niagara is committed to a cleaner planet, stronger community and brighter future for families through food science innovation, state-of-the-art manufacturing and technology, animal well-being and sustainable farming. For more information, visit www.UpstateNiagara.com.
