Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday joined PepsiCo Inc. chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi and Theo Muller Group CEO Heiner Kamps to mark the construction start of the firms’ U.S. joint venture, Muller Quaker Dairy LLC in the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park.
Once completed in 2013, the $206 million yogurt manufacturing plant in Batavia will be one of the largest yogurt plants in the country, and is expected to create more than 180 new jobs in Upstate New York.
Muller Quaker Dairy entered the U.S. dairy market in July selling yogurt products that have never before been available to U.S. consumers.
"The Muller Quaker Dairy yogurt facility is yet another example of how this is a new New York State, partnering with the private sector to create jobs and grow new industries," Cuomo said.
“We applaud PepsiCo and its leadership and the management team of the Theo Muller Group for helping further raise the state's profile as an international hub that is open and ready for business,” Cuomo said. “The jobs created here by Muller Quaker Dairy will be good for the state and great for the Genesee Valley."
To mark the construction of the more than 350,000-square foot facility, officials signed a ceremonial steel beam in front of state and local government and community dignitaries, representatives of local and national dairy organizations and members of local community organizations and groups.
Last month, the Genesee Gateway Local Development Corp. received preliminary approval for $1 million in federal funds to complete infrastructure improvements at the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park in Batavia. The money will help construct an aquifer-direct water system needed for Muller Quaker Dairy.
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