Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and Hilmar Cheese Company jointly announced the company’s decision to build a new state-of-the-art cheese and whey protein processing plant in Dodge City, Kansas. The new facility is expected to create 247 new jobs and represents $460 million in capital investment. The project is estimated to bring an additional $550 million in capital investment and 750 new jobs within a fifty-mile radius of Dodge City by late 2023.

Sweet Grass Dairy, an award-winning cheesemaker and one of​ the largest Southern artisan cheese brands, hosted a socially distanced ribbon cutting ceremony with The Thomas County Chamber of Commerce, Thomasville National Bank, CCH​ Construction, and architect Leon Lynn from Jinright, Ryan & Lynn. The ceremony took place at​ Sweet Grass Dairy’s new production facility located at 126 Roseway Drive in Thomasville, Georgia.

Hispanic Cheese Makers-Nuestro Queso is celebrating a significant expansion at its facility in Kent, Illinois. The $15 million investment includes new processing and packaging equipment, expanded cooler space and additional capacity to meet demand for further expansion in the future.

Lactalis Group has entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition by its U.S. affiliate of Kraft Heinz’s Natural, Grated, Cultured and Specialty cheese businesses in the U.S., Grated cheese business in Canada and entire International Cheese business outside North America. With this acquisition, Lactalis will acquire a portfolio of iconic, strongly-positioned brands that include Cracker Barrel, Breakstone’s, Knudsen, Polly-O, Athenos, Hoffman’s and, outside the U.S. and Canada only, Cheez Whiz. In addition, Kraft Heinz will partner with Lactalis on a perpetual license for Kraft in Natural, Grated and International cheeses and Velveeta in Natural and International cheeses.