Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy

Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy is a Vermont food company, a subsidiary of German corporation Ehrmann AG, that produces yogurt from two United States facilities for sale under its own brand and for relabeling by other retailers.

History

The company was founded as a partnership between Thomas Moffit and Benjamin Johnson, who formed the company after seeing strong demand for yogurt while working in the food service industry.[1] They began searching for partners and funding for the project in 2008, and entered into a joint venture with Ehrmann in September 2009.[1] In March 2010, with investment from Ehrmann, state and federal funding, and tax incentives from the state of Vermont, the company broke ground on a $32 million processing facility in Brattleboro, Vermont.[1][2] The plant began production in March 2011.[3]

In November 2012, Ehrmann Commonwealth began a $12 million expansion at the Brattleboro plant, increasing its size by 23,000 square feet (2,100 m2) from the original 39,000 square feet (3,600 m2).[2][4] The project was completed in June 2013, increasing the workforce at the facility from 110 to over 140.[4] For 2013, the company's estimated revenue was $70 million.[1]

In October 2013, the company opened a second yogurt production plant in Casa Grande, Arizona, under the name Ehrmann Arizona Dairy.[3] Constructed at a cost of $50 million and employing 110 people, the facility was built to distribute products to West Coast markets, while providing capacity to expand into the central United States.[3]

In December 2016, Ehrmann Commonwealth announced a second expansion project in Brattleboro, relocating administrative offices in the production facility and other areas into a new central headquarters building to allow added manufacturing space in the existing plant.[5] The $2 million project was partially financed by public funding, including $1 million from the Windham County Economic Development program and various indirect incentives from local and state governments.[5]

Products

Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy produces Greek yogurt under its in-house Green Mountain Creamery brand, as well as making yogurt for retailers to sell under their house brands.[5] It also is a contract manufacturer for other brands that do not have production facilities.[5] In 2016, the company produced around 75,000,000 pounds (34,000,000 kg) of yogurt.[5] Its Green Mountain Creamery vanilla Greek yogurt was awarded first place prize at the 2012 World Dairy Expo Dairy Product Championship Contest, and the brand's maple Greek yogurt was named the International Dairy Food Association's most innovative product in 2013.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Vermont's Commonwealth Dairy Doubling On Greek, In-Pouch Yogurts". Forbes. December 10, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Groundbreaking today for new Brattleboro yogurt factory". Vermont Business Magazine. March 18, 2010. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 "Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy to open $50M Casa Grande plant". Phoenix Business Journal. October 17, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Commonwealth Dairy completes expansion of yogurt operation in Brattleboro". Vermont Business Magazine. June 10, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "State commits over $2 million in incentives to Commonwealth Dairy expansion". Vermont Business Magazine. December 14, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Commonwealth Dairy launches organic GMO-free Greek yogurt". Vermont Business Magazine. October 28, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
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