Idaho Milk Products to Invest $200 Million in New Ice Cream Plant
Source: DairyNews.today
Idaho Milk Products, a key player in the Magic Valley’s thriving dairy industry, has announced plans to invest $200 million in a new 183,000-square-foot ice cream plant, set to begin construction this fall. The facility, located in Jerome, is expected to be operational by early 2026 and will also include a powder blending facility, further diversifying the company’s product offerings.
Launched in 2009 as a joint venture between Aardema Dairies, Bettencourt Dairies, and Big Sky Dairies, Idaho Milk Products has grown steadily over the past 15 years, processing 1.6 billion pounds of raw milk annually. The company has traditionally focused on producing milk protein concentrate, isolate, powder, and cream, but is now expanding into the ice cream sector with a focus on premium ingredients and both bulk and novelty products.
Daragh Maccabee, CEO of Idaho Milk Products, emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainable growth and innovation. "We constantly seek out new ways to add value to our milk, always doing so in a way that is sustainable for the longer term. Our vision for this plant is to build on the strength of our existing business, leverage our Milk Innovation Center, the strength of our R&D team, and the unique synergies that this business will create," Maccabee said.
This expansion is part of a broader trend of significant growth among dairy-focused businesses in the Magic Valley. The region is home to a number of major dairy producers, including yogurt giant Chobani in Twin Falls, and Glanbia Foods, which operates in both Twin Falls and Gooding. Other notable dairy companies in the area include Darigold, Commercial Creamery Company, Argopur, Magic Valley Quality Milk, Ballard Cheese, Brewster Cheese, Cloverleaf Creamery, Evans Farmstead Cheese, and High Desert Milk.
Dairy production is Idaho’s leading agricultural sector, surpassing beef, potatoes, and hay, and the state ranks as the nation’s third-largest milk producer, according to the trade group Idaho Preferred. The new ice cream plant marks a significant milestone in the continued growth and diversification of Idaho’s dairy industry.
Daragh Maccabee, CEO of Idaho Milk Products, emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainable growth and innovation. "We constantly seek out new ways to add value to our milk, always doing so in a way that is sustainable for the longer term. Our vision for this plant is to build on the strength of our existing business, leverage our Milk Innovation Center, the strength of our R&D team, and the unique synergies that this business will create," Maccabee said.
This expansion is part of a broader trend of significant growth among dairy-focused businesses in the Magic Valley. The region is home to a number of major dairy producers, including yogurt giant Chobani in Twin Falls, and Glanbia Foods, which operates in both Twin Falls and Gooding. Other notable dairy companies in the area include Darigold, Commercial Creamery Company, Argopur, Magic Valley Quality Milk, Ballard Cheese, Brewster Cheese, Cloverleaf Creamery, Evans Farmstead Cheese, and High Desert Milk.
Dairy production is Idaho’s leading agricultural sector, surpassing beef, potatoes, and hay, and the state ranks as the nation’s third-largest milk producer, according to the trade group Idaho Preferred. The new ice cream plant marks a significant milestone in the continued growth and diversification of Idaho’s dairy industry.
