EYE ON OPERATIONS

TheHouston Business Journalreported that Houston'sOak Farms Dairywill proceed with a $42 million expansion and renovation project, now that the company, a unit ofDean Foods, received a property tax abatement from the Houston City Council. Oak Farms General Manager Bill Murphy told theBusiness Journalthat the two- to three-year project will mean renovating the 71--year-old milk facility from front to back, upgrade cooler facilities and modernize other production operations. He says the facility produces approximately 7 million gallons a month and said the project will “significantly increase” the production level.

Pierre’s Ice Cream Company, Cleveland, said it expects by next spring to build and operate a 35,000-square-foot dairy in Cleveland. Officials say the new plant will be adjacent to the west end of Pierre’s 56,000-square-foot headquarters and distribution center in Cleveland’s Midtown District. As a result, officials said the new building will “consolidate all Pierre’s operations under one roof, which will help increase efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.” Pierre's processes gourmet ice creams, sherbet, frozen yogurt, sorbet, and frozen novelties. Officials say Pierre's current operation will be closed once the new plant opens.