Hilmar Cheese to expand Dalhart, Texas plant

Hilmar Cheese Company and its subsidiary, Hilmar Ingredients, will expand its cheese and whey production facility in Dalhart, Texas.

Hilmar’s Phase II expansion comes less than a year after the company launched operations at the Texas location.

The expansion will be complete by 2010 and will double the plant’s current capacity to 10 million pounds of milk a day, Hilmar spokesperson Denise Skidmore said.

“The facility is very successful and operating ahead of plan,” said John Jeter, CEO and president of Hilmar Cheese Company. “Our customers are pleased with our products and demand remains strong.”

“We are proud of the quality and consistency from this new facility,” David Ahlem, Dalhart site manager, said. “Our employees have worked very hard to make sure production runs smoothly.”

Dalhart, located in the Texas Panhandle north of Amarillo, has experienced significant dairy growth in recent years. Farm expansion continues with several new projects scheduled to break ground during the next year, Hilmar said in a statement.

“The decision to begin Phase II is a timely addition to cheese and whey capacity,” said Jeter. “The global market is looking for innovative value-added dairy products.”

Hilmar Cheese Co. also operates a plant in Hilmar, Calif.

Catherine Merlo is Western editor for Dairy Today. You can reach her at cmerlo@farmjournal.com.