Fairlife celebrates opening of $650M Webster processing plant, largest dairy facility in Northeast U.S. Fairlife opens its $650M milk processing plant in Webster, NY, creating 380 jobs in the largest dairy production facility in the Northeast U.S. Soft opening marks major expansion for Coca-Cola subsidiary with 380 jobs created and future capacity reserved for growing protein beverage demand. Fairlife CEO Becca Kerr joined New York Governor Kathy Hochul and local officials on Thursday, August 20, 2026, for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting to mark the soft opening of the company's new $650 million milk processing plant in Webster, Monroe County. Representing one of the largest capital investments in the history of The Coca-Cola Company, the 745,000-square-foot facility is the largest single industrial development in Monroe County history and the largest dairy production plant in the northeastern United States. Hiring at the plant has advanced ahead of initial projections, with Kerr announcing that Fairlife has already created approximately 380 full-time jobs in the region - surpassing the original 250-job target tied to state performance incentives and internal build-out forecasts. The facility is slated to operate continuous 24/7 shifts with all three core processing lines running during the second half of the year, manufacturing high-protein, lactose-free ultra-filtered milk, Core Power protein shakes, and Nutrition Plan meal replacement beverages. At full operational throughput, the Webster plant is expected to process roughly 5 million pounds of raw milk daily, sourcing directly from dairy farm cooperatives across the Rochester, Niagara, and Finger Lakes regions. The facility will generate approximately 200 semi-trailer and milk tanker movements per day, prompting public infrastructure upgrades including the planned extension of Boulter Industrial Parkway and local road widening around Tebor and Basket roads to accommodate heavy transport flows. The newly opened plant also features built-in shell space reserved for future industrial expansion. Addressing attendees, Kerr noted that soaring consumer demand for dairy-based protein formats makes the Webster site a central pillar for long-term national supply, calling the opening "one step in our Webster journey". Governor Hochul reaffirmed state and municipal backing for future phases, emphasizing that New York's agricultural policy and strong dairy infrastructure position the region as the primary hub for Fairlife's continuing production growth. The commissioning of the Webster plant represents a major structural shift in Northeast dairy processing, providing a high-volume processing outlet for regional raw milk pools amid broader market shifts. As consumer preferences increasingly pivot toward value-added, ultra-filtered functional beverages, the massive facility strengthens New York's farmgate processing capacity and expands Coca-Cola's dairy footprint across high-demand North American markets. You may be interested in. Legal Notice Related notes.

Morgan Stanley has reiterated its Overweight rating on Coca-Cola with an $89 price target, citing Fairlife as an underappreciated growth driver. The protein milk brand now represents 4% to 5% of Coca-Cola's total corporate sales and is growing at 20% to 25% annually, contributing 100 to 125 basis points to the company's organic sales growth. Fairlife's performance has accelerated sharply following a 30% capacity addition. Recent six-week scanner data shows 10% year-over-year sales growth, up from 2% in the prior 12 weeks. Morgan Stanley attributes this to constrained demand converting into revenue as new production capacity comes online. Coca-Cola shares have risen 20.48% year-to-date, outpacing the S&P 500's 6.42% gain. The stock traded around $83 on 10 June.

Fairlife breaks ground on $650 million facility expansion in Coopersville, Michigan. Fairlife broke ground on a $650 million Coopersville expansion, adding 245,000 sq ft, new production lines, and up to 200 jobs. Coca-Cola subsidiary adds 245,000 square feet, two high-speed production lines, and nearly 200 new jobs to boost ultra-filtered milk and protein shake output. Reporting details the official groundbreaking ceremony led by state leaders and company executives for Fairlife's massive $650 million expansion project at its Coopersville, Michigan facility. The investment represents a major milestone for Ottawa County's agribusiness sector, reinforcing West Michigan's status as a core manufacturing and dairy-processing hub. The ambitious infrastructure project adds 245,000 square feet of production space to the existing plant on West Randall Street, incorporating two advanced high-speed production lines. This significant capacity upgrade is designed to expand national output of Fairlife's signature ultra-filtered, lactose-free milk and Core Power protein shakes to meet rapidly accelerating consumer demand. Beyond physical plant enlargement, the expansion will create approximately 150 to 200 new full-time jobs, bolstering local employment and increasing raw milk procurement from regional dairy farms across Michigan. The facility already handles millions of pounds of milk daily, and the enhanced processing capacity will further solidify long-term supply contracts for local agricultural producers. The project has received robust state and local support, including an Alternative State Essential Services Assessment (ASESA) tax abatement valued at roughly $3.9 million and a $3.275 million grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). Additionally, the city of Coopersville secured a $17 million Make It in Michigan Competitiveness Fund grant to upgrade vital regional water and municipal infrastructure systems. Coming on the heels of a brief, temporary operational pause in July due to external utility circumstances - which safely resolved without impacting store shelves - the groundbreaking marks a strong return to growth. With construction anticipated to run over the next 18 months and commercial production slated for 2028, the expansion cements Fairlife's long-term commitment to Michigan's rural economy. You may be interested in. Legal Notice Related notes.