Chobani announced plans to construct America's largest natural food manufacturing facility in Rome, New York. The $1.2 billion project will create a 1.4 million square foot plant capable of producing over one billion pounds of dairy products annually.
The new facility, to be built at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park, will bring more than 1,000 new jobs to Oneida County and nearly double Chobani's New York State workforce. When operating at full capacity, the plant will process over 12 million pounds of milk daily, creating substantial opportunities for the state's dairy farmers.
"New York is where Chobani's journey began," said Hamdi Ulukaya, Chobani's Founder and CEO. "With our new plant in Rome and our original home in South Edmeston, we're entering a new dimension, partnering with hardworking people across the heartland of New York."
The company selected Rome after a nationwide search, citing several advantages including:
- A skilled local workforce, including military veterans
- Proximity to East Coast population centers
- Available affordable housing
- Access to graduates from nearby colleges
To support this expansion, Empire State Development has offered up to $73 million in performance-based tax credits through the Excelsior Jobs Program. Chobani has committed to developing workforce training programs targeting underserved populations.
The investment strengthens New York's position as America's leading yogurt producer. The state, home to nearly 3,000 dairy farms producing 16.1 billion pounds of milk annually, ranks fifth among U.S. dairy states.
Governor Kathy Hochul welcomed the announcement, noting that "this massive new $1.2 billion investment will bring more than 1,000 good-paying jobs to Oneida County — the largest natural food manufacturing investment in American history."
The project represents a major boost for New York's dairy industry, which forms the largest segment of the state's $8 billion agricultural sector. Construction will take place at the Triangle parcel in Griffiss Business and Technology Park, which received over $23 million in infrastructure improvements last year.