Byrne Dairy to invest $25 million in Cortlandville plant

CORTLANDVILLE, N.Y. — Byrne Dairy, Inc. announced on Nov. 9 that it is making another major investment in its dairy-processing facility in Cortlandville.

Originally built in 2014, Byrne says it will invest $25 million to retool the facility to produce extended shelf life and shelf-stable dairy products. It will install new processing and filling-equipment lines and expand the building footprint.

The 88-year-old family-owned business will start expansion of the facility in January. Work is expected to wrap up in October. 

“We’re excited by the growth in our extended shelf life and aseptic platforms,” Carl Byrne, president and CEO of Byrne Dairy, said in a release. “This investment in our Cortlandville facility will have an instant positive impact on our ability to serve these markets.”

Byrne currently employs 80 people at the Cortlandville plant. The company will reduce its Cortlandville workforce during construction and installation of the new filling lines. The project is expected to create 50 construction and installation jobs during the retooling process. Byrne Dairy is expected to employ more than 80 people as production fully resumes in late 2022. 

Byrne Dairy employs about 600 people in its Central New York dairy plants and warehouses. The Byrne Dairy and Deli convenience stores employ about 1,300 people throughout Central New York.