Darigold Expansion for FIT Milk

Darigold Expansion for FIT Milk

Rick Worthington
Rick Worthington
Darigold Expansion for FIT Milk

Have you ever tried FIT Milk? It's a product that has become huge for the Dairy Industry, and due to that demand, Darigold is investing 67 Million dollars in it's Boise facility.

Kristi Spense with Dairy West says this is great news for the Boise facility that will have to grow in terms of expansion as well as increase jobs.

Launched in the Pacific Northwest market last year, FIT has doubled in sales and distribution over the past six months. This great-tasting milk with no compromises has 75% more protein and 40% less sugar compared to traditional milk. To support this growth, Darigold, Inc. will invest $67 million in its Boise, Idaho, facility this year.

FIT was developed in response to consumer trends that demand “better for you” products, which are also delicious and convenient. Using ultrafiltration, FIT is designed to give consumers the taste they want while being lactose-free and high in protein without introducing anything artificial. Darigold recently broadened the FIT product line to include whole milk, as well as offering 2% white and 2% chocolate milk.

The investment in Boise will not only expand FIT but will also serve as a platform for re-launching other classic Darigold beverages.

This investment includes a major capacity expansion, as well as modern aseptic packaging to produce FIT as a shelf-stable product that can be shipped and stored without refrigeration. This project will generate 15 new positions in Boise. It will also reduce the company’s environmental footprint as it relates to water use, plastic, corrugated material and overall energy use.

Many of the local farmers who supply the milk and sponsored the development of FIT are based in Washington state. Tony Veiga, chairman of the Dairy Farmers of Washington’s board of directors, said: “This is yet another example of innovation coming from the entrepreneurial spirit of our farmers, building on a tradition of constantly striving to provide more nutritious products in more sustainable ways. Darigold and the co-op’s farmers certainly do dairy in a responsible way.

Darigold FIT milk was named Editor's Choice #1 by Dairy Foods magazine in January 2020, for their 2019 Top 10 Best New Dairy Products list. The Editor’s Choice is based on originality, packaging and taste. FIT was also named a finalist for best dairy drink in the 2019 World Dairy Innovation Awards.

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