Chobani ‘Entering a New Dimension’ With $1.2 Billion New York Facility
Chobani is investing $1.2 billion in a new dairy processing plant in Rome, New York, amidst accelerated growth.
Upon completion, the Rome facility will house up to 28 production lines to process approximately 12 million pounds of milk per day. Chobani currently purchases over a billion pounds of raw milk from New York State dairy farmers annually. Once the new facility reaches full capacity, the brand expects to purchase roughly six billion pounds per year.
Founded in 2005 by Turkish businessman Hamdi Ulukaya, Chobani got its start in Edmeston, New York, in a former Kraft factory. With the addition of the Rome plant, the company will operate three production plants across the U.S. and one in Australia.
“With our new plant and our original home in South Edmeston, we’re entering a new dimension, partnering with hard-working people across the heartland of New York to build an ecosystem of natural food production and nourish families throughout the country,” said Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO, in a press release.
Notably, the dairy industry is the largest single segment of the Empire State’s $8 billion agricultural industry. New York has nearly 3,000 dairy farms that produce 16.1 billion pounds of milk annually, making it the fifth-largest dairy state in the country.
Chobani’s new project is expected to generate more than 1,000 full-time jobs in Oneida County. To help facilitate Chobani’s investment and expansion in the Mohawk Valley, Empire State Development (ESD) has agreed to provide the company up to $73 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits to support the creation of these jobs.
“Through this partnership with Chobani, we’re revitalizing upstate New York’s manufacturing sector one spoonful at a time. When I took office, I pledged to make New York the most worker-friendly and business-friendly state in the nation, and projects like this show our strategy is working,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul in a statement.
The brand has experienced significant growth over the past few years, branching out from a yogurt business into a platform that also manufactures products like oat milk and creamers. Following its $900 million acquisition of La Colombe in 2023, the company began selling cold-pressed espresso and lattes on tap at cafés nationwide and ready-to-drink beverages at retail.
Chobani is the third-largest refrigerated oat milk brand in the U.S., representing roughly 20% of the category with dollar sales over $118 million in the 52-week period ending December 29, according to data from Chicago-based research firm Circana.
Last year, the privately held company saw sales climb 17% to $2.96 billion, reported The New York Times, and the new plant is expected to help Chobani meet “soaring” product demand and create runway for new innovations.
