Four million more pounds of milk every day.
That’s how much additional milk fairlife expects to process after breaking ground on an expansion at its Coopersville, Mich., facility, creating a larger market for Michigan dairy farms.
The Coca-Cola Company recently broke ground on the $650 million, 245,000-square-foot project, adding two production lines that will increase the plant’s milk processing capacity by 60%. Once complete, the facility will process about 10 million lbs. of milk per day, up from the more than 6 million lbs. it currently sources from more than 30 Michigan dairy farms.
The Coopersville plant began production in 2012 and currently employs nearly 450 full-time workers. The expansion is expected to add about 200 more full-time jobs.
Fairlife CEO Becca Kerr says the investment is the company’s largest expansion at the Coopersville facility and is needed to keep up with growing consumer demand.
“Our Coopersville plant has long been a powerhouse for the fairlife business, and this investment represents our largest expansion of the facility to date and our commitment to continuing to grow in Michigan by adding approximately 200 full-time jobs,” Kerr says.
“Demand for our product has never been higher, so this capacity is critical for us to continue to meet that demand,” she says.
Kerr says the expansion also strengthens Fairlife’s partnership with Michigan dairy producers.
“The expansion will allow us to bring in an additional four million pounds of milk from Michigan dairy suppliers each day and significantly increase capacity and availability of fairlife products.”
She says every additional pound of milk begins on a dairy farm.
“We’re going to be adding 4 million lbs. per day of milk when we expand this site,” Kerr says. “Every single one of those pounds is a farmer’s hard work, and we are really proud to be a long-term partner to those farmers.”
More Demand for Michigan Milk
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says the project will create jobs while supporting the state’s dairy industry.
“Michigan is open for business and on the move, and today’s expansion is proof our work to invest in Michigan communities, create good-paying jobs, and grow our economy is paying off,” Whitmer says.
“This $650 million expansion will create 200 new full-time jobs right here in Michigan and support dairy farms across our state.”
Tim Boring, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, says the state is well positioned to supply the additional milk.
“Michigan boasts the most productive cows of any state across the country,” Boring says. “Dairy production and dairy consumption continues to grow here in Michigan, and it’s these higher value products that I think is reflective of a consumer base that cares how and where their food is grown.”
More processing capacity also creates stronger demand for milk produced in the state.
“Substantial in-state demand for this milk really fuels the dairy industry here and in a corresponding way, the general ag economy in a really important way,” Boring says.
Mandy Cooper, interim president of Lakeshore Advantage, says the expansion’s benefits will extend well beyond the processing plant.
“The impact of this expansion will stretch far beyond this facility, and even this community,” Cooper says. “fairlife’s increased production will create new opportunities for dairy producers and suppliers throughout Michigan.”
Construction is expected to be completed in early 2028. Fairlife is also finishing a new production facility in upstate New York and operates additional production facilities in Arizona, New Mexico and Ontario, Canada.
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