According to Calvin Covington, Chief Executive Officer, SMI anticipated operating the facility through May 9, 2008, but a recent tornado in the Atlanta area forced them to accelerate plans to close the facility.
SMI will continue to maintain dairy deliveries and operate from its Atlanta facility through early April and has been working with Mayfield Dairy, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Foods Company to assist in customer transitions. Mayfield Dairy will assume the distribution routes and hire a number of Atlanta Dairy employees. Additionally, Mayfield Dairy will acquire certain assets necessary to provide continued service to Atlanta Dairy customers, including the Atlanta Dairy trademarks. Dean has also agreed to continue to purchase the raw milk produced by SMI members that was going to Atlanta Dairy.
SMI has been exploring a sale of the real estate associated with the facility to buyers interested in the property for retail or residential development.