Aurora Organic Dairy (AOD), a producer and processor of store-brand organic milk and butter, announced plans to construct a new dairy processing facility in Columbia, Mo., which would create more than 90 jobs initially and up to 150 total new jobs over the next five years.
Based in Boulder, Colo., AOD’s supply chain includes organic dairy farms, a dedicated organic fluid milk processing plant and organic heifer and calf ranches in Colorado and Texas. This “cow-to-carton” model provides organic dairy products to consumers nationwide.
“The decision to build our second milk plant in Columbia culminates several years of research and diligence to determine the optimal location for a new processing operation,” says Marc Peperzak, founder and CEO. “Columbia was the best choice because it offers a location that expands and improves the efficiency of our total supply chain, from organic feed to milk to consumer. Central Missouri also offers a great workforce and attractive access to major interstate highways. We are excited to break ground on our new facility later this spring.”
AOD expects the $100 million plant to be fully operational in early 2019, and this first phase of construction is expected to create more than 90 new jobs in the community. The company may further expand the plant in the next few years, and create up to 60 additional new jobs at the facility.
The new facility will be located on Route B at the Sutter Industrial Site. Construction will begin later this spring.