US – Hilmar Cheese Company, one of the world’s largest producers of high quality American-style cheese and whey products, has announced plans to build a new state-of-the-art cheese and whey protein processing plant in Dodge City, Kansas, United States.
The new facility will help Hilmar Cheese Company meet the growing demand of its customers and the marketplace for cheese and whey products worldwide.
According to a report by Grand Review Research, the global whey protein market size was estimated at US$8.7 billion in 2019 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8% from 2020 to 2027.
Rising incidences of chronic illnesses due to changing lifestyles, particularly among the millennial population, is one of the key factors driving the adoption of protein-rich diets, which, in turn, is likely to augment demand for whey protein.
The global cheese market size is, on the other hand, projected to reach US$155.49 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.7% during the forecast period, according to Fortune Business Insights.
Creating new opportunities for Kansas
According to a statement from Hilmar, the new facility, which is anticipated to be fully operational in 2024, is expected to create 247 new jobs and represents US$460 million in capital investment.
Additionally, the project is estimated to bring an additional US$550 million in capital investment and 750 new jobs within a fifty-mile radius of Dodge City by late 2023.
The cheese and whey production facility will provide a ready market for Kansas dairy producers thus promote growth of the industry in the region.
The state-of-the-art facility is also expected to showcase sustainable solutions in line with the company’s sustainable practices and goal to achieve a Net Zero dairy industry by 2050.
“We want our plant to be as good for the environment as it will be for the local economy,” Hilmar Cheese Company CEO & President David Ahlem said. “We’ll use technologies and sustainable practices to promote carbon neutrality.”
According to the statement from Hilmar, the project would not have been a success without the support received from authorities in Kansas and their counterparts in Ford County and Dodge City.
Kansas Governor, Laura Kelly, who was present during the project launch said: “It’s great to see another major food manufacturer like Hilmar choose to put their trust in our state and Dodge City for their newest facility.”
Hilmar Cheese Company was established in 1984 by 12 local dairy farm families in the Central Valley of California and currently;y boasts of a state-of-the-art production facility in Dalhart, Texas, employing more than 1,500 local residents.
Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE
