Brattleboro, Vt., USA – Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin and Commonwealth Dairy in Brattleboro announced today that the company will invest $12 million in new facilities and equipment at its Brattleboro plant, which began operations in March of 2011. When the project is completed, the company expects to add as many as 34 new jobs to its existing workforce of 110. As of January, it was producing more than 100,000 cases of packaged yogurt per week, including its popular strained Greek yogurt.
“Commonwealth’s rapid growth is welcome news in the Brattleboro area and to the entire State of Vermont,” Shumlin said. “I am particularly pleased that this company produces a value-added dairy product that supports Vermont farmers and our agricultural community. The 100+ jobs that were created in 2011 and the 34 new jobs that will be added due to this expansion demonstrate how Vermont has maintained its position as the state with the fifth lowest unemployment rate in the nation while continuing Vermont’s progress in expanding our critical manufacturing sector”
“Our production and expansion in Brattleboro has far exceeded our most optimistic projections when we launched this project in 2010” said Commonwealth Dairy’s President and CEO Tom Moffitt. “In less than two years, we have become a leading producer of authentic strained Greek yogurt, including our own Green Mountain Creamery brand.
“ We have a great workforce here in Brattleboro, and really appreciate the Governor’s leadership and the leadership at the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development and the Town of Brattleboro in making this project and expansion a success.” added Commonwealth Dairy’s CFO Ben Johnson.
Commonwealth Dairy, LLC is a joint venture between Ehrmann USA Holding’s, a US subsidiary of Ehrmann AG, and Commonwealth Yogurt. Its principal owners are Tom Moffitt and Ben Johnson. The company manufactures private label, co-pack and branded class II dairy products, which are primarily yogurt products.
The new investment will add more than 23,000 square feet to the facility, including a new processing line, new warehouse space, a new filling machine, fermentation tanks, wastewater treatment improvements and new whey processing and packaging equipment. More office space will also be included. All of the milk utilized by the plant is expected to come from area farmers, as it does now. The project is expected to be completed by April, 2013.
Ehrmann AG (www.ehrmann.de) is a family-run international yogurt company based in Germany. The company has manufacturing facilities in Germany, Russia, and the Czech Republic with branded and private label sales in over 40 countries. The company employs more than 1,500 people worldwide, has annual revenues in excess of $1 billion, and is known for its technological innovation and excellent product quality.
Commonwealth Yogurt consists of a management team with over 65 years of combined experience in the global dairy industry.
Commonwealth Dairy, LLC combines Ehrmann’s production expertise, European quality standards, and technical resources with Commonwealth Yogurt’s US dairy, retail, and marketing experience and knowledge.
Source: Commonwealth Dairy, LLC
