Southern Idaho sees food manufacturer influx

The region attracted $800 million in food company investments that created 5,000 jobs last year.

Southern Idaho was able to attract seven projects over 10 months in 2013, including investments from leading food companies such as Chobani, Monsanto, Clif Bar and Frulact Group, as well as expansions of Glanbia Foods, McCain Foods and Calva/Brewster. The projects are expected to create 5,000 jobs directly and indirectly, with a total combined investment of over $773 million, according to the Southern Idaho Economic Development Corporation (SIEDO).

“For our region of 200,000 people to open or announce seven new projects in a 10-month timeframe is pretty phenomenal. We’ve shattered all previous business records,” says Jan Rogers, SIEDO executive director. “Southern Idaho, blessed with agricultural diversity, is now becoming the country’s center for food production, food processing and food science.”

Since December 2012, food-related companies announcing or opening locations in Southern Idaho include:

Chobani, which opened the world’s largest yogurt manufacturing plant in December 2012 ($450 million)
Monsanto, which announced a new wheat technology center for R&D opening in 2014 ($9.2 million)
Clif Bar & Company, which announced the construction of a new facility in October 2013 ($160 million)
Frulact Group, which announced a new $30+ million plant to open in 2014
Glanbia Foods, which opened a new headquarters and cheese innovation center in 2013 ($15 million)
McCain Foods, which invested $100 million to expand its potato processing facility in 2014, and
Calva/Brewster Partnership, which announced a new infant animal formula plant in 2013 ($9 million).

According to the Southern Idaho Economic Development Corporation, Idaho ranks in the top third of US states for food processing and has a strong base of row crops, sugar beets, potatoes, barley, winter/summer wheat, oats, seed production, pork processing, cattle/calves, dairy production/processing, aquaculture, food science/R&D, and lamb, milk and honey production.