The award winning yogurt producer Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy, based in Brattleboro, is expanding operations to better serve their retailer partners with the launch of a new dairy processing facility in Casa Grande, Arizona. The new, 100,000 square foot yogurt manufacturing facility will open in October on a 27-acre site and will be named Ehrmann Arizona Dairy.
Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy, which produces high quality Greek and traditional yogurt products for a variety of retailers, as well as its own line of Green Mountain Creamery products, is known for its innovative approach to safe production methods, high quality products and commitment to environmental sustainability. The plant produces more than 125,000 cases of packaged yogurt per week, including its popular strained Greek yogurt. The new operation will expand its current production capacity, allowing it to better serve its customers with locations on the west coast, as well as new clients.
‘The response to our products in the marketplace has been incredible ‘ Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy is clearly filling a need for superior store brand yogurt products,’ said Thomas Moffitt, CEO of Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy and Ehrmann Arizona Dairy. ‘Not only has our original facility in Brattleboro, VT grown, we have seen a clear interest in current and potential clients for us to provide similar products and services for the central and western part of the country through Ehrmann Arizona Dairy. We have created the infrastructure to launch multiple innovative new products under the global Ehrmann brand commencing in January 2014.’
During its first year in operation, the Casa Grande Facility will employ approximately 110 people.
‘Casa Grande is the ideal location for our expansion, due to its superior infrastructure, dedicated workforce, and abundant milk supply. This location will enable us to make our products readily accessible to all of the major consumer markets along the West Coast,’ said Benjamin Johnson, Vice President and CFO of Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy and Ehrmann Arizona Dairy. ‘The United Dairymen of Arizona, the city of Casa Grande and the state of Arizona did everything possible to support us in this project.’
Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy recently completed a major expansion project at its original Brattleboro, Vermont plant, which began operations in March of 2011. In less than two years Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy has become a leading producer of authentic strained Greek yogurt, including its own Green Mountain Creamery brand.
Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy produces the Green Mountain Creamery line of yogurts which contains no artificial preservatives, additives or colorings and are made with only the purest ingredients including rBST free milk. Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy returns 5% of its net profits directly back to the farmers who supply its milk.
Awards for Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy include:
· 2011 Award for Excellence in Community Development ‘ Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation
· 2011 Largest Yogurt Smoothie ‘ Guiness Book of World Records
· 2012 World Dairy Expo Dairy Product Championship Contest first place
for the Company’s Green Mountain Creamery brand of Vanilla Greek yogurt
· 2012 Fabulous Food Plant ‘ Food Engineering Magazine
· 2013Phoenix Award for environmental revitalization and economic redevelopment.
· 2013 IDFA Most Innovative Product ‘ Green Mountain Creamery Maple Greek Yogurt