Shamrock Farms invests $40m in plant expansion to double production capacity

By Mary Ellen Shoup

- Last updated on GMT

Shamrock Farms expects to add 70 new jobs once the expansion is completed in 2018, the company said.
Shamrock Farms expects to add 70 new jobs once the expansion is completed in 2018, the company said.

Related tags Convenience store

Shamrock Farms is expanding its August County, Virginia, milk manufacturing facility, which will more than double its production capacity, and create 70 new jobs in the area, reaching 120 employees once the project is completed by late 2018.

The Virginia product facility was built in 2013 for $50m and at the time created 60 new jobs.

Shamrock Farms is investing more than $40m into the project. The family-owned dairy will also receive a $400,000 performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership (VIP) program, along with a $400,000 grant from the Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund, administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The Virginia governor’s office said that the company will also commit to sourcing an additional $24m in Virginia milk; quadrupling its current purchases of Virginia agricultural products. 

“As exclusive purchasers of milk through the Maryland/Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative, Shamrock Farms supports our dairy farmers and provides high-tech manufacturing jobs to our citizens,”​ Tracy Pyles, chairman of the Augusta County board of supervisors, said.

Expansion focuses on innovation of milk-based beverages

The expansion will significantly increase filling capacity and expand product varieties, sizes and formats, the company said.  Among the technology additions is the ability to produce shelf-stable products using convenient plastic single-serve bottles.

The existing product portfolio includes the Shamrock Farms RTD mmmmilk line and Rockin' Refuel protein beverages. Recently Shamrock Farms launched Cold Brew Coffee and Milk, capitalizing on the rapid growth of the ready-to-drink coffee category.

"The expansion gives us the capacity and the technology to meet growing demand, expand our offerings and propel milk-based beverages into the future,"​ Ann Ocana, chief marketing officer for Shamrock Farms, said.

Shamrock Farms' products are available in more than 50,000 quick-service restaurants and 36,000 grocery and convenience stores nationwide.

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