US dairy cooperative, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, is buying the Kraft Heinz cheese plant located in Campbell, New York and entered into a co-packing agreement with the deal saving the facility and jobs.

Previously Kraft Heinz had considered closing the factory but the new purchase agreement is now expected to be completed within the next 30 to 60 days.

“We’re thrilled to announce that Upstate Niagara Cooperative has agreed to purchase our Campbell dairy facility and has signed a long-term co-packing agreement with Kraft Heinz,” said Michael Mullen, SVP of Corporate & Government Affairs at The Kraft Heinz Company. 
 
“This deal guarantees that at least 125 jobs will remain in Campbell with anticipated growth to 150 within a year, during which our business customers will experience zero disruption in the service of our dairy products. As part of our commitment to this transaction, Kraft Heinz has pledged an ongoing investment of $3 to 5 million to improve and maintain the Campbell facility.”

“We look forward to adding the Campbell cheese facility to our organization in the coming weeks,” adds Larry Webster, CEO of Upstate Niagara Cooperative. 
 
“As a dairy cooperative owned by farm families throughout the region, this acquisition is an investment by our member owners towards continued and long-term growth for our cooperative and the Campbell facility. We are proud to be able to keep manufacturing jobs within the community while offering additional products and manufacturing capabilities to our customers.”

Upstate Niagara Cooperative is a farmer-owned cooperative of 360 dairy farms throughout Western New York producing, manufacturing and distributing high-quality, fresh dairy products. 
 
The dairy products are marketed under the Upstate Farms, Bison, Intense Milk, and Valley Farms brands along with partners’ brands.