Chobani to invest $1.2 billion for New York production facility

Chobani, which got its start in 2005 as a Greek-style yogurt producer, will be building a $1.2 billion production facility in Rome, New York. The facility will be capable of producing over one billion pounds of dairy products per year, and will create more than 1,000 jobs, a press release from Governor Kathy Hochul’s office stated.

Chobani Founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya said in a statement, "New York is where Chobani’s journey began. It was the perfect spot to start Chobani 20 years ago, and it’s the perfect place to continue our story. Working with dedicated dairy farmers and the resilient community, we built something truly special — something bigger than the food we make. We ignited a movement toward better food made with heart, passion, and only the highest-quality ingredients."

"With our new plant in Rome 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. When you invest in people, in local communities, you’re not just building a business — you’re building a future," Ulukaya added.

The facility, once at full capacity, will process over 12 million pounds of milk per day, and will nearly double Chobani’s workforce in the state. Per the New York Times, Chobani now controls around one-fifth of the American yogurt market. In March, Chobani announced that it would invest $500 million to expand an Idaho factory. 

Hochul said in a statement, "Through this partnership with Chobani, we're revitalizing Upstate New York's manufacturing sector one spoonful at a time. Chobani has been a major employer in the Mohawk Valley for decades, and this massive new $1.2 billion investment will bring more than 1,000 good-paying jobs to Oneida County — the largest natural food manufacturing investment in American history. 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 one show our strategy is working."

This comes as companies across the country and the globe are investing in American manufacturing under the Trump administration. Among the companies to announce hefty investments are Hyundai, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, and Nvidia, as well as others.