On April 8, fairlife, LLC announced plans to build a 300,000 square foot production and distribution facility just outside of Phoenix, in Goodyear, Arizona. The plant would be fairlife’s second plant in the U.S., with the company already having a production facility in Coopersville, Michigan. Last June, fairlife and distribution partner Coca-Cola Company announced the addition of a production facility in Ontario, Canada, that added the first international market for the ultrafiltered milk products.
“I’m extremely proud that the demand for our milk has grown so much that we now need another manufacturing site! In choosing a new plant location, it is essential that the new facility be built in an area where dairy farms are willing and able to follow fairlife’s responsible animal care and sustainable farming practices while producing the highest quality milk. Not only are there amazing dairy farmers in and around Goodyear, its location enables competitive domestic and international production,” says Tim Doelman, chief operating officer for fairlife.
The new Arizona plant is projected to be operational in the second half of 2020 and is estimated to cost $200 million to construct. fairlife is working with United Dairymen of Arizona to source milk from area dairy farmers.
“fairlife is a pioneer in the dairy industry and having their new plant here will not only encourage innovation in Arizona, it will contribute to our efforts to grow our advanced manufacturing sector in our community,” adds Mayor Georgia Lord of Goodyear, Arizona.
fairlife was founded by dairy farmers Mike and Sue McCloskey in 2012. The plant will process a number of fairlife products, including the different varieties of fairlife ultra-filtered milk, Core Power, fairlife YUP!, fairlife smart snacks, and fairlife nutrition plan.
“Sometimes, I think back to that day over 20 years ago when Mike and I sat at our kitchen table and came up with the idea of cold-filtering our milk for higher nutrition. We dreamt of a more nutritious milk for consumers. It is extremely rewarding to see the results of our hard work pay off and make this dream a continuing reality, thanks to the great dairy farmers here in Arizona. We look forward to working with all our amazing partners and are committed to supporting the economic growth in the southwest region,” says Sue McCloskey, dairy farmer and co-founder of fairlife.
The new processing facility will employ more than 140 people.
