WhiteWave Plant Expands
HARRISONBURG - WhiteWave Foods Co.'s largest facility is getting even bigger.
The Broomfield, Colo.-based company has invested $38 million to expand its Mount Crawford plant, and plans to add about 15 jobs over the next two years, said Luana Hancock, WhiteWave's corporate communications manager.
"We're expanding the facility in response to the continued growth and success of WhiteWave Foods and its brands," Hancock said. "As a result of the expansion, we'll add 15 new positions over the next two years, which we anticipate will include mostly line-operator jobs."
Hancock also expects some quality assurance, managerial and maintenance-related opportunities to come open at the plant.
The Mount Crawford facility produces national brands such as Silk Soymilk, Horizon Organic, International Delight non-dairy coffee creamer, and Land O'Lakes creamer products.
Brand Growth
Hancock said that construction on the plant began early this year and is slated to finish in early 2009.
The expansion comes on the heels of "healthy top-line growth" in nearly all the brands that the WhiteWave facility produces, she said.
In 2007, Horizon Organic milk sales grew by about 18 percent.
Silk sales rose by 8 percent in the same year, while International Delight sales increased by 11 percent. And Land O'Lakes creamer product sales increased by 13 percent in 2007, Hancock said.
WhiteWave is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dean Foods, and does $1.3 billion in sales annually, with 1,365 employees nationwide, according to WhiteWave's Web site.
Continued Growth
The expansion continues a pattern of steady growth for the facility. Since 2002, WhiteWave has added $100 million in capital investment and 100 jobs to the Mount Crawford location, and the plant has doubled in size, Hancock said.
WhiteWave's current investment will add 60,000 square feet to the building, she said.
The Mount Crawford plant currently occupies 242,000 square feet and 90 acres, and employs 340 people.
The original building was constructed in 1988, became a Dean Foods facility in 2002, and has solely produced WhiteWave foods since 2005.
"We're certainly pleased to continue investing in the local facility and community," Hancock said.
By Kate Prahlad, Daily News-Record
574-6277 or kprahlad@dnronline.com