French dairy processor Groupe Bel is to invest US$100m in its third facility in the US.
Bel is to build a 170,000sq ft manufacturing facility in Brookings, South Dakota to produce its Mini Babybel cheese.
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Construction will take place in two phases, with the first expected to being this summer. The facility is expected to create around 200 jobs when the plant becomes fully operational by 2014.
The second phase of the plant, which Bel said is “contingent on anticipated increased market demands”, is expected to begin in 2016-2017 and is expected to create a further 200 jobs.
“The robust South Dakota dairy industry and its hard-working Midwestern values make Brookings an ideal location for our new plant,” said Bel Brands USA president and CEO Lance Chambers. “Bel Brands has experienced significant growth over the past few years, and this new plant is essential to expanding our production capacity to meet the growing demand for our Mini Babybel cheeses.”
Mini Babybel represents around one-third of Bel Brands’ US sales. To meet current demand, the company imports around 50% of the Mini Babybel business. Bel said it aims to attain sales volumes of 22m pounds or 10,000 tons (US) by next year.
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By GlobalDataIts two other production facilities in the US are in Kentucky and Wisconsin.
