Milk company fairlife LLC has announced plans to increase overall production capabilities with the construction of a new 300,000 sq. ft. production and distribution facility in Goodyear, Ariz., a suburb of Phoenix. Fairlife currently produces multiple varieties of dairy-based beverages at its production plant in Coopersville, Mich., and distributes the nutritious beverages to retailers in the U.S. and Canada.

“I’m extremely proud that the demand for our milk has grown so much that we now need another manufacturing site. In choosing a new plant location, it is essential that the new facility be built in an area where dairy farms are willing and able to follow fairlife’s responsible animal care and sustainable farming practices while producing the highest-quality milk," fairlife chief operating officer Tim Doelman said. "Not only are there amazing dairy farmers in and around Goodyear, [but] its location enables competitive domestic and international production.”

The new $200 plus million facility, which is slated to begin operation in the back half of 2020, will house production lines that will play a key role in meeting the growing demand for fairlife. Working with the United Dairymen of Arizona (UDA) to source milk from numerous dairy farmers in Goodyear, the new fairlife plant will enable increased production of all fairlife products, including the different varieties of fairlife ultra-filtered milk, Core Power, fairlife YUP!, fairlife smart snacks and fairlife nutrition plan.

Goodyear mayor Georgia Lord said, “fairlife is a pioneer in the dairy industry and having their new plant here will not only encourage innovation in Arizona; it will contribute to our efforts to grow our advanced manufacturing sector in our community.”

The new facility will create more than 140 jobs locally and augment benefits within the local economy, from the development and construction of the facility to the continuous resources and suppliers needed to support daily operations.

“Sometimes, I think back to that day over 20 years ago when Mike and I sat at our kitchen table and came up with the idea of cold-filtering our milk for higher nutrition. We dreamt of a more nutritious milk for consumers,” said Sue McCloskey, dairy farmer and fairlife co-founder. "It is extremely rewarding to see the results of our hard work pay off and make this dream a continuing reality, thanks to the great dairy farmers here in Arizona. We look forward to working with all our amazing partners and are committed to supporting the economic growth in the Southwest region."

Fairlife was founded in 2012 by Mike and Sue McCloskey of Select Milk Producers Inc., a group of dairy farmers dedicated to using exceptional cow care and sustainable farming practices to yield higher-quality milk.