Chicago-based fairlife LLC announced plans to increase its overall production capabilities with the construction of a brand new 300,000-square-foot production and distribution facility in Goodyear, Ariz., a suburb of Phoenix.

Currently, fairlife produces dairy-based beverages at its production plant in Coopersville, Mich., and distributes to beverage retailers across the United States and Canada. “I’m extremely proud that the demand for our milk has grown so much that we now need another manufacturing site,” said Chief Operating Officer for fairlife Tim Doelman, in a statement. “In choosing a new plant location, it is essential that the new facility be built in an area where dairy farms are willing and able to follow fairlife’s responsible animal care and sustainable farming practices while producing the highest quality milk. Not only are there amazing dairy farmers in and around Goodyear, its location enables competitive domestic and international production.”

The new $200-plus million facility, which is slated to begin operation in the back half of 2020, will house production lines that will play a key role in meeting the growing demand for fairlife, the company says. Working with the United Dairymen of Arizona (UDA) to source milk from numerous dairy farmers in Goodyear, the new fairlife plant will enable increased production of all fairlife products, including the different varieties of fairlife ultra-filtered milk, Core Power, fairlife YUP!, fairlife smart snacks and fairlife nutrition plan, it adds.

The new facility also is set to incorporate advanced manufacturing technologies and efficient, energy-saving equipment to reduce power consumption. It also will create more than 140 jobs locally and augment benefits within the local economy, from the development and construction of the facility to the continuous resources and suppliers needed to support daily operations, the company says.

Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord commented: “fairlife is a pioneer in the dairy industry and having their new plant here will not only encourage innovation in Arizona, it will contribute to our efforts to grow our advanced manufacturing sector in our community.”