Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) – Governor Kathy Hochul announced Monday that Lactalis, the global cheese manufacturing leader, will invest $60 million to modernize and expand its Buffalo facility, part of a broader $123 million commitment through 2027.
The project will help retain more than 800 jobs and create over 50 new positions across the company's Buffalo and Walton locations.
The Buffalo plant at 2375 South Park Avenue produces Galbani Ricotta, Mozzarella, and Provolone cheeses, as well as whey powder distributed nationwide and globally.
The $60 million expansion will add six 50,000-pound vats, an advanced cheese belt, separators, new silos, and a robotic palletizer. Facility upgrades include relocating the cheese lab to maintain production, increasing mozzarella and provolone output by 37 million pounds annually, and expanding ricotta production. The project will also introduce new energy-efficient technologies. With this investment, Lactalis USA's total commitment to its Buffalo operations will reach approximately $123 million from 2020 through 2027.
Both the Buffalo and Walton plants will see job growth and continue to support the region's agricultural economy by processing over 800 million pounds of raw milk each year from 236 local dairy farms.
