Michigan’s dairy industry is getting another major boost as The Coca-Cola Company-owned Fairlife announced a $650 million investment to expand its Coopersville production campus. According to the company, the project comes as consumer demand for value-added dairy beverages, including ultra-filtered milk and protein shakes, continues to grow.
The expansion will add 245,000 square feet of production space and two state-of-the-art high-speed production lines. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with the new lines expected to be operational by 2028. The project is also expected to create 150 new jobs in the region.
Fairlife has been part of the Coopersville community since 2012 and currently employs more than 400 workers. Over the past decade, the facility has grown steadily and is now one of the state’s largest dairy-related food processors, playing a major role in Michigan’s agribusiness economy. It also coincides with the planned opening of a new Fairlife production facility in Webster, New York, later this year, signaling growth for the brand beyond Michigan.
“Michigan has been and will continue to be a dairy powerhouse,” says Pierce Bennett, livestock industry relations specialist with the Michigan Farm Bureau. “We are excited to see that significance recognized and look forward to the opportunities this investment will provide Michigan dairy farmers.”
Growth Driven by Demand
Coca-Cola’s February 2026 Form 10-K filing shows that the company derives most of its dairy revenue through Fairlife, which purchases milk from dairy cooperatives to fuel production. While milk sourcing is concentrated among a few cooperatives, Coca-Cola says it has access to alternative suppliers if necessary to maintain supply.
The company added that Fairlife’s expansion is essential to meet rising consumer demand for products that provide higher protein and less sugar than traditional milk. The brand’s growth has mirrored broader gains across Coca-Cola’s beverage portfolio. During a February earnings call, Chief Operating Officer Henrique Gnani Braun said volume grew across Fairlife, Coke, Sprite Zero and BODYARMOR. Braun noted that innovation, increased availability and expanded distribution helped drive this growth.
State Support and Community Impact
The project has received support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which approved a $3.9 million Alternative State Essential Services Assessment abatement. Governor Gretchen Whitmer calls the investment “a huge win for Michigan” and says it shows how infrastructure improvements, workforce training and collaborative planning can help the state compete for transformational economic projects.
Fairlife’s announcement marks the second major dairy expansion in Michigan in the past 30 days, following Chobani’s $567 million investment to expand yogurt production in Twin Falls, Michigan. Together, these projects highlight the state’s growing role in value-added dairy processing and its ability to attract large-scale investment.
