The Lactalis American Group, a division of the French conglomerate Groupe Lactalis has announced plans to build a 61,300-square-foot plant that will produce fresh mozzarella in Nampa, Idaho. The plant will be operating by spring 2013.
“This is a great day for Lactalis, particularly for the Nampa team,” said Jean Paul Quiblier, vice president of manufacturing and purchasing for Lactalis American Group.
Fresh mozzarella is a relatively small sideline of the existing Nampa plant, with 40 workers producing around 7 million pounds of the cheese per year, officials said.
That output will increase to 40 million pounds per year of Galbani brand cheese when the new plant opens, taking on the existing 40 workers and hiring about 70 more, said Lenny Bass, who will manage the fresh mozzarella operation.
The existing plant will continue its focus on producing string cheese, plus bulk and shredded mozzarella, he said.
A $50 million whey-drying tower, completed in 2010, turns the liquid left over from cheese-making into a protein powder used in animal feed and protein drinks.
The existing plant goes through about 4.2 million pounds of milk a day, and about 80 percent comes from Treasure Valley dairies, other milk comes from the Magic Valley.
Source: Idaho Statesman; Kristin Rodine