Idaho Milk Products began construction of a 180,000-sq.-ft. facility in Jerome, ID in October 2007. Once operational, the new plant will process about 3 million gallons of milk per day into protein powders, lactose permeate and cream.



Lifeway Foods, Inc., maker of Kefir probiotic dairy beverage, completed the expansion of its Morton Grove, IL headquarters facility.  The project, which cost approximately $2.5 million and took about 18 months to complete, will double Lifeway’s existing production capacity. The company is in the process of moving the Kefir production line from its current production facility in Minnesota to the Illinois location.



Riviana Foods Inc. will build a new 400,000-sq.-ft. rice processing and packaging plant adjacent to its current packaging facility in Memphis, TN. The new facility will also include an on-site warehousing and distribution center. Riviana Foods expects construction of the estimated $67 million facility to be complete in 2010.



J.D. Sweid Ltd. is spending more than $6.5 million to expand its Elmira Poultry plant in Waterloo, Ontario. With a 31,000-sq.-ft. expansion, the company will be better able to meet the demands of its customers, which include Costco and Loblaws, for further processed and RTE chicken products. The new production line is expected to be operational by November 2008.



Truitt Brothers will open a 200,000-sq.-ft. processing plant in East Bernstadt, KY. The facility, which was once a food distribution warehouse, should be operational by the fall.  The new plant will cost between $16 and $19 million.