DanoneWave is a French company focused on sustainable agricultural practices and plant-based alternatives for making dairy products. Last year they purchased Denver-based WhiteWave Foods, the makers of Silk-branded milks and yogurts, for $12.5 billion. The move was part of the company’s strategy to capitalize on a growing demand for such products in the U.S.
The acquisition must be going well, as the company recently announced plans for a $60 million expansion of its Mt. Crawford, Virginia facility. The plant currently employs more than 500, with this expansion bringing another 50 jobs to the facility. The WhiteWave acquisition essentially doubled Danone's North American presence, but the company sees an opportunity for continued growth.
According to research from Mintel, non-dairy milk sales grew by nine percent in the U.S. in 2015, while the traditional form of the product saw sales decrease by seven percent. This portion of Danone's North America business posted sales of $1.5 billion in the third quarter, up from $738 million during the same period last year.
While one plant expansion will be about the product, another will ensure it gets to market fresh and safe. Contract packaging leader Cascades, Inc. announced it will be investing $21 million to upgrade its production of food packaging. The investment will focus primarily on new equipment for packaging and preserving fresh protein products while adding at least 10 jobs to the facility.
More specifically, the equipment investments will target new film manufacturing capabilities to protect against contamination. Company officials feel this will make it possible to increase production capacity of recycled PET that can double a product’s shelf life. Updating and modernizing other pieces of equipment could also increase production capacity by 25 percent and double the plant's recycling capacity.