Winona Foods to build new cheese converting facility

January 27, 2017

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Winona Foods has announced plans to build a new redistribution and cheese converting facility in Howard, Wisconsin.
Equipped with direct rail access, Winona’s new facility will provide its vendor partners additional avenues for distribution, something that is very important to the company, notes Terry Steinmann, president, Winona Foods.
The facility will drive continued growth of Winona’s foodservice, chain account and specialty cheese offerings nationwide and will complement the company’s other plants and corporate headquarters in nearby Green Bay, Wisconsin, adds Dave Meyer, vice president, Winona Foods.
“We are excited to open this new facility,” Meyer says. “Winona Foods is extremely proud of our growth over the past 22 years, and we expect this new plant will complement our suppliers and customers.”
The new facility will be built on a 22-acre site in Howard.
“The Village of Howard has been very supportive of our growth and expansion,” Meyer notes. “Wisconsin has a strong culture based in the dairy industry, and that is important to our company.”
The facility will break ground this spring on 187,000 square feet, with land available for additional growth. The company aims to be in the facility by December.
Meyer notes that construction and operations of the new facility will implement as many eco-friendly systems and green-concentrated options as possible. The estimated cost of the project is $30 million, and the company anticipates it will create 120 jobs.
In addition to advanced distribution systems for Winona Foods’ logistics department, the new facility will feature direct rail access, expanded efficient cooler distribution, additional offices and manufacturing.
“Direct rail access will provide more accommodating solutions for our customers and suppliers,” Steinmann says. “Keeping operations in Northeast Wisconsin provides Winona Foods with a quality workforce that allows us to thrive.”
He adds that the logistical advantages of the new facility will enhance the company’s solution-based mission — to provide its customers with exceptional dairy solutions and services of the highest quality.

Cheese Market News