JEROME, Idaho — Idaho Milk Products, founded 15 years ago by four Idaho dairy families, has broken ground for a new ice cream and powder blending plant.

The event marks the company’s latest innovation and entry into the ice cream market.

The new facility will focus on premium recipes in both bulk and novelty formats and offer custom formulations tailored to the needs of customers.

“We will be able to produce a variety of novelty products, including sandwiches and stick bars and have the capability of producing various carton sizes from less than a pint to half a gallon, said Louis Armstrong, Idaho Milk Products ice cream business manager.

“We intend to co-manufacture various ice cream products in partnership with brands or retailer’s needs,” he said. “Our plant, at scale, will have the capacity to produce roughly 14 million gallons of ice cream mix per year into various frozen formats.”

Milk proteins

The company is already a leader in the production of high-quality milk protein concentrate and isolate, milk permeate and cream.

The facility will be the one of the most sustainable, most innovative ice cream plants in the world, said Daragh Maccabee, Idaho Milk Products CEO.

“This groundbreaking event marks the beginning of a new chapter in our continued commitment to make better food possible,” he said.

He described the occasion as “the end of the start of another new beginning.”

Processing prowess

The plant will be adjacent to the company’s existing plant.

More milk is processed in this half square mile than any other half square mile on the planet, thanks to Jerome Mayor David Davis and those in city management, he said.

“We are excited to be able to partner with IMP to help with the growth of this company,” said Davis.

This is an important day for dairy, Idaho and Jerome, said Michael Dykes, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association.

Economic contribution

The U.S. dairy industry employs 3.2 million people with $49 billion in direct sales and an $800 billion economic impact.

Idaho’s dairy industry provides 46,000 jobs and $3.3 billion in wages, which adds to the tax base in Idaho communities for schools, roads and more, he said.

Idaho Milk Products currently processes 1.6 billion pounds of raw milk annually and produces 60 million pounds of milk protein concentrate and milk protein isolate, 155 million pounds of cream and 55 million pounds of milk protein permeate annually.