Coca Cola is constructing a new dairy facility in Peterborough, Ontario. The new facility for Fairlife milk products is expected to start operations next spring. It is located alongside Coca Cola's Minute Maid plant on Lansdowne Street near Borden Avenue according to Global News.
All of the milk at the facility will be provided by Canadian dairy farmers.
The facility will produce Fairlife ultra-filtered lactose-free milk that Coca Cola says contains 50 per cent more protein and 50 per cent less sugar than traditional milk.
The Director of brand and business communications at Coca Cola Canada, Shannon Denny stated that most of the exterior construction is complete on the new facility while interior construction continues. Half of the 15 silos have already been installed with the remaining structures to be finished this October and November.
Denny also noted that installation of the facility's processing equipment is underway and half of the packaging equipment has arrived at the site.
Canada is the first international market for US based Fairlife's products. Minute Maid's Peterborough facility produces all the company's frozen juice products for North America.
The company had originally planned on hiring 35 new employees and four key leadership roles have been filled and the company is recruiting plan technical staff in maintenance and quality roles. As production increases, more job opportunities will be created.
Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada praises the company's investment, noting Canada's agriculture and agri-food industry generates over $100 billion of the country's gross domestic product, employing more Canadians than any other manufacturing industry in the country.
Coca Cola purchased the Peterborough property in 1948 and originally used the site for Coca Cola bottling. In 1982 the Minute Maid plant was constructed and now the new facility will enhance it.