Dairy Products Manufacturer Invests $25M in New Plant

French dairy products supplier La Fermière is preparing to build a 25,000-sq-ft production plant for yogurt and dairy desserts at the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park in Batavia, NY as it looks to expand its position in the US market, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday.

“The Batavia site meets our main requirements for success: quality milk and large cream supply, logistics hub and work force availability. Being close to local farmers, at the heart of milk production, was key for us, as we will use up to 6 million gallons of milk every year,” Jean-Jacques Trapinian, president and CEO of La Fermière, said in a statement. “Our five-year presence in the US market expanded beyond our expectations. This state-of-the-art facility will help us achieve our very ambitious goal in the US market, which offers large opportunities by manufacturing the best all natural yogurts and dairy desserts, with innovative recipes and process.”

La Fermière’s decision was made after the company considered locations across the country. New York was selected because of support from the state and regional economic development organizations. The company formed a relationship with a New York co-packer in the 2010s to enter the US market.

Billed as the “Dairy Processing Hub of the Northeast,” the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park occupies 250 acres and features over 1 million sq ft of operations.