Suntado opens state-of-the-art dairy facility in Idaho

USA – Suntado, a supplier of dairy and food products for various brands, has inaugurated a state-of-the-art production facility in Burley, Idaho.

The 190,000-square-foot plant on 23 acres marks phase one of a three-phase project that will eventually allow the facility to triple its capacity.

Operations at the new facility will ramp up throughout 2024. Over the next 12 months, the facility plans to process between 800,000 and 1 million pounds of milk daily.

The initial production focuses on shelf-stable and extended shelf-life (ESL) milk, cream, and other dairy-based beverages, potentially expanding into non-dairy drinks.

The facility’s vertical integration allows Suntado to process and package products in one location, enhancing efficiency and quality control.

Located in Idaho, the third-largest dairy-producing state in the U.S., the plant sources milk from 6,000 organic and 30,000 conventional dairy cows owned by Dirk Reitsma and Jesus Hurtado within a 20-mile radius.

Suntado, owned by experienced organic and conventional dairy farmers, benefits from a reliable local milk supply, ensuring high-quality ingredients for its dairy-based beverages.

Unlike typical producers, Suntado will not manufacture its brand. Instead, it will enable retailers and national brands to private-label their beverage products.

In a recent project, Suntado partnered with Tetra Pak for packaging solutions, incorporating five Tetra Pak lines, including machines for producing Tetra Top, Tetra Brik Aseptic Edge, and Tetra Prisma Aseptic packages.

Seth Teply, president and CEO of Tetra Pak U.S. and Canada, highlighted the importance of shelf-stable products in transforming food systems.

With a longer shelf life and no need to refrigerate until opened, shelf-stable dairy products support the transformation of food systems by increasing access to safe food and reducing food waste.

“This vertically integrated facility and our product offerings are completely different than anything out there right now,” Tory Nichols, from the office of the CEO at Suntado, said.

“I’m energized that we’ve built this plant from the ground up, creating a secure, locally sourced milk supply. This facility will offer countless brands the flexibility and scalability they seek, and Tetra Pak’s input and shelf-stable expertise have proven invaluable to our efforts along the way.”

The facility is expected to be commercially ready by June, coinciding with Dairy Month, and will significantly contribute to the local economy and the broader dairy industry.

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