Chobani Expands

Chobani’s $100 million expansion at the world’s largest yogurt manufacturing facility in Twin Falls is the latest investment fueling Southern Idaho’s growing manufacturing industry, according to the Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization. One reason for the expansion is because Chobaniis expanding its product line according to spokesperson Christina Grothues.

 

Chobani’s success has served as a draw for other manufacturing companies like Fabri-Kal, which recently invested $50 million in a new 100,000-square-foot facility in Burley to provide yogurt cups to Chobani. Additionally, Clif Bar & Company will open its first 275,000-square-foot Clif Bar Baking Company in Twin Falls this summer, a $90 million investment.

 

These three businesses have created nearly 6,000 direct and indirect jobs and have an annual $1.8 billion economic impact on the Southern Idaho region.

  

Chobani’s expansion in production lines and product development brings its total investment in Twin Falls to nearly $750 million and its total employment will be over 1,000. The yogurt company’s Twin Falls facility - completed in an unprecedented 326 days - opened in 2013 with an initial investment of $450 million.

  

Southern Idaho’s strength in food manufacturing has been recognized at the federal level. In 2015, Southern Idaho was one of four regions in the country to be given the national stamp of approval by the U.S. Department of Commerce with a Manufacturing Community Designation in the food category. This elite recognition puts Southern Idaho’s economic dominance in food production, processing and science into the global and national spotlight.