Coca-Cola Canada announced today (June 5) it would be investing $85 million to build a new production facility in Peterborough.
The first product to be made at the new facility is fairlife Ultra-Filtered Milk, a lactose-free milk containing more protein and less sugar than traditional milk. The milk, previously only available in the United States, comes in four varieties: reduced fat, chocolate, fat-free, and whole milk.
The fairlife company was formed in 2012 when Select Milk Producers entered into a partnership with The Coca-Cola Company. The brand first appeared in Minnesota, where it launched in February 2014.
The plant will be supplied with milk from local dairy farmers in Ontario.
“We couldn’t be more excited to continue the fairlife journey with our forthcoming expansion into Canada,” says Tim Doelman, chief operating officer of fairlife. “The decision to launch fairlife in Canada was an easy one to make, given the high farming and dairy standards already in place. All of our products start with high quality, great tasting fresh milk, which is what Canadian dairy farms are dedicated to as well.”
The new facility, scheduled to begin operations in the first quarter of 2020, will produce fairlife Ultra-filtered Milk in fat free, 2% white, 2% chocolate and whole (3.25%) white in 1.5L bottles, and 2% white and 2% chocolate in 240 mL bottles.
The new facility will create 35 jobs and support the existing 100 jobs at Peterborough’s Minute Maid plant. There will also be related employment from the development and construction of the facility to the resources and suppliers needed to support daily operations.
“I welcome today’s announcement by Coca-Cola,” says Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef.
“This investment represents a significant vote of confidence in a 70-year strong partnership between Coca-Cola, Minute Maid, and our region’s skilled workers. This investment in our community further solidifies Peterborough-Kawartha as a regional leader in innovation and economic development.”
