Chobani formally opens $450 million yogurt plant in Idaho

NORWICH — Chobani, Inc. today announced the formal grand opening of its new manufacturing plant in Twin Falls, Idaho, the company’s second in the U.S.

Norwich–based Chobani says it has invested $450 million to build the 1 million-square-foot Idaho facility in less than 11 months. It is the world’s largest yogurt manufacturing plant, according to the company.

Chobani, which says it has the top-selling yogurt brand in the U.S., broke ground on the 200-acre site in December 2011 and started construction earlier this year. Phases one and two of the project were completed in 326 days, with more than 2,000 people working on the construction project, the firm says.

The first cups of yogurt produced at the plant rolled down the assembly lines on Nov. 20.

“We believe that no other yogurt facility is comparable to the size, technology and efficiency displayed in our new Twin Falls site,” Hamdi Ulukaya, founder, president, and CEO of Chobani, said in a news release. “Twin Falls is our second home but will not replace our Central New York plant, which will continue to operate at full capacity. In fact, we will continue to grow and invest in our New York operations.”

More than 300 people already work at the Idaho plant, with additional hires expected in the next several months.

Chobani is close to reaching $1 billion in total sales, Ulukaya said during his award acceptance speech for the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year for 2012 that he recently received. The yogurt company employs about 2,000 people in New York state.

Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com