Contact: Tom Evenson, (608) 266-2839

Project expected to create 87 new jobs

Howard – Governor Scott Walker joined Winona Foods employees today at the groundbreaking ceremony for their new facility in Howard.

“We are proud to be recognized as America’s Dairyland thanks to our strong agricultural tradition,” Governor Walker said. “To succeed in the 20th-century economy, we’ve developed a strong infrastructure of service, equipment, knowledge, and technology to ensure we remain America’s top dairy producer for generations to come. Looking forward, it’s up to companies like Winona Foods and dairy ambassadors throughout the state to strengthen this important industry by producing and promoting our world-class dairy products.”

Founded in 1995 in Winona, Minnesota, Winona Foods has its roots in cheese making. Today, Winona Foods has an expanded focus, including the areas of foodservice, industrial ingredients, retail, and co-packaging industries. In 2003, Winona Foods relocated to Green Bay and built a state-of-the-art facility featured on The History Channel’s “Modern Marvels.” This facility creates and packages cheese, cheese products, sauces, salsa, and their Winona Pure Oil line. In 2014, Winona Foods expanded and opened a facility in Kaukauna, which includes a fully functional commercial kitchen, technology, and equipment to provide customers with performance-oriented products as well as support Winona Foods’ Green Bay facility.

The new $1.4 million, 180,000 square foot facility will house a crossdock distribution center with converting lines for shedding, slicing, cubing, loafs, prints, and wedges. The project is anticipated to create 87 new positions.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is in discussions with the company regarding possible incentives for the expansion project.

Thanks to over 9,000 local dairy farms and 1.2 billion dairy cows, Wisconsin produces a quarter of the nation’s cheese, ranking Wisconsin as the top cheese-producing state. In 2015, Wisconsin cheese production reached a major milestone, topping 3 billion pounds for the first time.

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