The Coca-Cola Company announced this week that it has selected Webster, New York, as its preferred location for a new fairlife production facility as part of the brand’s continued expansion in the Northeast market. The approximately 100-acre facility is expected to source from local milk cooperatives to produce fairlife’s high-quality, dairy-based beverages before distributing them to retailers across the region.

“Consumer demand for fairlife products is at an all-time high, and a new production facility will allow us to significantly increase capacity and deliver fairlife to even more households across the country,” said fairlife CEO Tim Doelman. “As we continue to grow in the Northeast, Webster’s proximity and access to best-in-class dairy farmers make it an excellent location to support our next phase of growth in the region and beyond. We are sincerely grateful for the collaboration from Governor Hochul and her administration throughout this process.”

The dairy industry is New York’s largest agricultural sector and contributes significantly to the state’s economy. The town of Webster is well situated between high-quality dairy cooperatives in the Rochester and Niagara regions, with a surrounding workforce that has the relevant manufacturing and food and beverage experience, making it the ideal location for fairlife’s expansion.

Expected utilization is equal to an estimated 5 million pounds of locally sourced milk per day, making it the largest dairy plant in the Northeast and positioning New York to regain its position as the third-largest producer of milk in the U.S.

“This decision by fairlife to expand their operations in Monroe County marks the next chapter in New York’s agricultural success story,” Gov. Hochul said. “New York’s dairy industry serves as a crucial economic engine for our state, and this $650 million investment from fairlife will create jobs and economic impact, particularly in the Finger Lakes."

He continued, “Coming from a family of dairy farmers in Ireland, I am proud to have secured this major opportunity to position our state as one of the nation’s top dairy producers.”

Groundbreaking and construction of the new facility are expected to begin in Q4 2023, following due diligence and appropriate approvals. The facility is anticipated to be operational beginning in Q4 2025.

"Fairlife's announcement that it will build a new processing plant in New York state is significant news for the state's dairy farms and our upstate economy. It will expand the marketplace for New York-produced milk, which is needed for the long-term success of our farms,” said New York Farm Bureau president and dairy farmer David Fisher. “In addition, the construction and processing jobs that will be created highlight how agriculture contributes to the greater state economy. New York Farm Bureau thanks Gov. Hochul for her commitment to make this day a reality, and we welcome fairlife to New York as a partner and supporter of the state's number one agricultural commodity."

The research for fairlife’s branded milk process using state-of-the-art ultrafiltration originated at Cornell University over a decade ago. Unique to fairlife, the ultrafiltration process gives their milk a longer shelf life and creates a product with less sugar, more protein and more calcium over conventional milk for sale in the marketplace. The company launched in 2012 with the belief that milk and its natural health benefits can be made even better and be used to create great-tasting products that nourish consumers and fit into their modern lifestyles. The company has since exceeded $1 billion in annual retail sales and offers a wide range of products, including fairlife ultra-filtered milk, Core Power protein shakes, and fairlife Nutrition Plan meal replacement shakes.

The Coca-Cola Company has been a strategic partner to fairlife since it was launched in 2012 through the company’s ultimate acquisition of it in 2020. This proposed facility represents its ongoing investment in the continued growth of fairlife.