By Jason Gabak
Editor
Last week, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc., a Buffalo-based business, announced that in an effort to expand, it had acquired Byrne Dairy’s fresh fluid milk operations.
According to a press release from Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc., the company has signed an agreement to purchase the Byrne Dairy fresh fluid milk operations including the fluid milk plant located at 240 Oneida St. in Syracuse and several distribution centers throughout New York State, which function as Byrne Dairy’s direct store delivery opeation.
According to a press release from Byrne Dairy, Byrne Dairy’s extended shelf life plant in Dewitt, cultured dairy plant in Cortlandville, ice cream plant in Syracuse, warehouse operations in Syracuse and Dewitt and all of the Byrne Dairy & Deli stores are not affected by the sale.
Under the terms of the agreement, Byrne Dairy will grant a license to Upstate to package fresh milk, including glass bottles, under the Byrne Dairy name.
Byrne currently employs approximately 250 people in the production and distribution of fresh milk.
Upstate expects to retain nearly all of Byrne’s current employees.
According to the press release operations at the Byrne Dairy facilities will continue as they currently do with existing employees.
Byrne will continue to supply milk to the Oneida Street facility from its farms throughout Central New York.
“We’re excited that Upstate Niagara Cooperative will carry on the fresh milk portion of the business that my grandfather started in 1933,” said Carl Byrne, president of Byrne Dairy. “This sale is good for our farmers, the employees, and the customers of Byrne Dairy, as well as the Syracuse community. We will continue to invest in our remaining facilities, like the $25 million expansion we just completed at our extended shelf life plant in DeWitt.”
Closing of the deal is expected to be completed within the next forty days, some time prior to Dec. 1 is anticipated according to the press release.
“This acquisition is a strategic investment by our member-owners toward continued and long-term growth for our cooperative and will strengthen our ability to continue to provide award-winning products and exceptional customer service while expanding our reach into adjoining markets,” Lawrence Webster, chief executive officer for Upstate Niagara Cooperative, said. “We are excited and eager to embark on this new chapter of our cooperative’s journey and are committed to completing the transition as seamlessly as possible for the employees and customers impacted.”
As part of the deal, Upstate Niagara Cooperative is signing a long-term licensing agreement for the continued use of the Byrne Dairy brand on fresh fluid dairy products, which will join the lineup of the company’s brands: Upstate Farms, Intense Milk, Milk for Life, Bison and Valley Farms.
The dairy will be the ninth manufacturing facility for Upstate Niagara Cooperative, and its fourth fluid milk plant, allowing the company to be able to better serve its existing customers and to establish a stronger presence in the region, according to the press release.
Byrne Dairy has been in operation since 1933.
Working with local family farms, Byrne Dairy produces extended shelf life milks, ice creams and cultured products that can be found throughout the Northeast and other area across the United States.
Upstate Niagara is a cooperative of more than 310 fmaily owned farms.
The organization’s distribution network includes the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions for direct store delivery and stretches across the country in the foodservice channel, under the Upstate Farms brand.
The cooperative has over 1,000 employees and is also the majority owner of O-AT-KA Milk Products, Inc., which produces condensed milk, milk powders, butter and value-added shelf-stable dairy-based beverages.
To learn more about Upstate Niagara Cooperative, visit upstateniagara.com.
