HP Hood Upgrading Virginia Dairy Plant
HP Hood is investing more than $83.5 million to expand its dairy processing operations in Frederick County, Va.
The expansion project includes upgrades to production and packaging equipment and construction of additional cooler and warehouse space. The project will enable the company to grow its business while continuing to provide a local market for Virginia dairy farms through its milk cooperative network which includes the Dairy Farmers of America and the Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, company officials said.
Hood’s Winchester facility, which was constructed in 2000, employs more than 600 people and processes extended-shelf-life fluid milk and nondairy products for Hood’s own brands, private label partners, licensed brands and co-packing partners. The facility expansion will provide increased production capacity that is critical to the company’s operations and fund technology that will enable Hood to produce new products in response to growing customer demand.
“We proudly selected this location to build a greenfield plant more than 24 years ago and have been grateful for the ongoing support of Frederick County and the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Gary Kaneb, president and CEO of HP Hood. “This expansion enables us to continue to grow Hood’s business and accommodate the ever changing needs of our customers and continue to provide a market for local dairy farms through our local milk cooperative network.”
Founded in 1846 in Charlestown, Massachusetts as a milk delivery service, HP Hood is a nationally branded dairy processor with more than 3,000 employees and annual sales revenues of approximately. $3.5 billion. The company manufactures conventional, extended-shelf life (ESL) and shelf stable dairy and non-dairy beverages cultured products, as well as ice cream and frozen desserts. In addition to selling its products through traditional retail and wholesale channels, the company also manufactures private-label products and provides co-packing services.