Shamrock Farms is expected to begin construction in the coming months on a new 130,000ft2, $50 million dairy manufacturing plant in the state of Virginia. It is expected to be complete by late 2014. The new facility will have a particular focus on extended shelf-life technology (ESL), and will be located in Augusta County.
The finished project is expected to create 60 new jobs with a large margin for expansion. Shamrock Farms also plans on sourcing milk from local Virginia farmers, which will open a new market for the small, family owned dairy communities already present. The facility and general expansion is expected to provide the company with enough resources to meet the needs of increasing demand for their dairy products, in addition to setting a new standard for ESL dairy products.
"This is a key milestone in our company's more than 90 year history, and a natural next step as we continue to achieve even further national growth," said Kent McClelland, CEO and third-generation of McClelland family leadership. "The Shamrock Farms brand stands for Real.Fresh.Ideas, which means a commitment to innovation and to providing authentic, high-quality dairy products."
A few of Shamrock's featured ESL items are the On-The-Go-mmmMilk bottles and a protein-fortified dairy drink called Rockin' Refuel, produced for athletes to use during muscle development activities. ESL technology is an advanced form of pasteurization which allows the milk - and other dairy products - to stay fresher, for longer. The company introduced the technology to its products over 10 years ago, and was among the first company to do so.
Shamrock Farms was started in 1922 and is based out of Arizona. The company features a wide variety of dairy products. With the new manufacturing facility in across the country, Shamrock Farms with now have twice the production capabilities.
The Commonwealth of Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has backed the business expansion, of which he has approved a $250,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to be given to Augusta County for assistance in the Shamrock investment, in addition to $50,000 from Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industry Development Fund.
"With this project, Virginia adds another major corporation to its roster," said Governor McDonnell. "We warmly welcome Shamrock Farms to the Commonwealth and Augusta County, and appreciate the company's significant investment. I am confident Shamrock Farms will benefit from the skilled workforce and infrastructure available, while complementing the existing enterprise base, utilizing locally produced materials, including locally sourced milk, and helping advance the local economy."