Schreiber Foods Inc. plans to add 145 jobs in Logan over the next few years as it again expands its yogurt production.
The Logan operations, part of Schreiber since 1972, first began producing yogurt in 2008, with an expansion following in 2020. The next expansion would be the third related to Greek yogurt, according to Ted Christiansen, director of operations and manager of the Logan plant.
“What’s driving all of that craze on Greek yogurt? … Protein is the ‘in’ thing in dieting right now, right? Can’t get enough of it,” he told the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity board, which approved an incentive for the project.
Annual yogurt production in the U.S. currently is about 2 billion pounds and is growing 12 percent to 13 percent year over year, he said.
The $165 million project will include an expansion of 88,000 square feet.
“Why Logan? Well, the same reasons we came to Utah in the ’70s,” he said. “There’s a talented workforce and a proximity to Utah State University, we have access to one of the largest milksheds in the United States, and finally the proximity to our West Coast markets.”
Wisconsin-based Schreiber Foods is a global dairy company founded in 1945 that manufactures and distributes natural and process cheese, yogurt, cream cheese and beverages, with an estimated annual revenue of $7 billion. The company is 100 percent employee-owned, with over 10,000 workers worldwide. Schreiber Foods serves various customers, including retailers, restaurants and food manufacturers, and operates locations across five continents.
Christiansen said if a person eats a cheeseburger, there’s a 95 percent chance the cheese came from Schreiber. Likewise, Schreiber accounts for 99 percent of the cream cheese that is not produced by Kraft Philadelphia.
The GOEO incentive is through the state’s Rural Economic Development Tax Increment Financing (REDTIF) program, which provides performance-based tax credits issued after recipient companies meet job creation and investment goals. The Schreiber tax credit is for up to more than $4.3 million over eight years, Total new wages from the project are estimated at more than $77.6 million during that time, and new state tax revenue is projected to be nearly $17.4 million. The average wage for the new jobs is $66,936.
“We here at the city have had a long history with Schreiber Foods, obviously … dating back to the ’70s, and we’ve grown with them and we’re proud to have them here in our community,” Kirk Jensen, Logan’s economic development director, told the GOEO board.
“They’re just a great, long-standing part of our industrial and manufacturing community here, and they do a lot to integrate and they’re involved with the community as well.”
Jesse Turley, acting GOEO chair, said he wants to see the company back soon for another state incentive. “So, hopefully there’ll be a fourth project, fifth project and continuing moving on,” he said. “We think this is a great partnership with the state of Utah and appreciate all that you’re doing here.”
In a prepared statement, Jefferson Moss, GOEO’s executive director, said Schreiber has a “terrific” track record in Cache County and that GOEO is looking forward to supporting its expansion and continued success. “Organizations like this are pillars that provide so much value to their industry, community and to the people that work for them; they are exactly who we want to see building in Utah,” he said.
GOEO does not provide upfront cash incentives. Each year that an incentivized company meets the obligations in its contract with GOEO, it will qualify to receive a portion of the new, additional state taxes the company paid to the state.