Greek-yogurt manufacturer Chobani announced on Tuesday that it would be investing $1.2 billion in building its third dairy processing plant in the United States, this time in upstate New York. The new project is expected to create more than 1,000 full-time jobs for Americans.

The privately held company, which was founded in 2005 by Turkish businessman Hamdi Ulukaya, said the new investment will go a long way in keeping up with rising product demands. Company executives also anticipate that the new processing plant will lead to new innovations in the United States.

Ulukaya, who founded the company in the Empire State back in 2005, announced that the new facility will be in the Central New York community of Rome.

“New York is where Chobani’s journey began. It was the perfect spot to start Chobani 20 years ago, and it’s the perfect place to continue our story. Working with dedicated dairy farmers and the resilient community, we built something truly special — something bigger than the food we make. We ignited a movement toward better food made with heart, passion, and only the highest-quality ingredients,” Ulukaya announced in a press release.

“With our new plant in Rome and our original home in South Edmeston, we’re entering a new dimension, partnering with hard working people across the heartland of New York to build an ecosystem of natural food production and nourish families throughout the country. When you invest in people, in local communities, you’re not just building a business — you’re building a future,” the CEO added

When the facility reaches capacity, it will process over 12 million pounds of milk per day, and will nearly double Chobani’s workforce in the state. According to figures analyzed by the New York Times, Chobani currently controls around one-fifth of the American yogurt market.

Net sales for the company rose by 17 percent to $2.96 billion in 2024, with adjusted pretax earnings rising 26 percent to $509 million.

The New York announcement comes just a month after the company announced that it would be investing an additional $500 million for facility updates at its Twin Falls, Idaho plant. Chobani expects the Idaho investment to double the company’s production capacity by adding roughly 50,000 square feet to its existing facility.

In addition to expanding the plant itself, Chobani is seeking to provide a boon to Idaho’s agricultural sector by sourcing more ingredients locally.

Since its inception in 2012, the Twin Falls plant has brought more than 1,000 jobs to Idaho, a number that could double once the expansion is complete. “He [Hamdi Ulukaya] knows what the American consumer, what the world consumers, wants. That’s what he is producing here,” Idaho Governor Brad Little said of the expansion.

Ulukaya said the recent U.S. investments align with the yogurt giant’s core mission to bring good food to more people.”

“This dream has been successful, it worked. It provided what we said it would, making the most delicious natural food that is accessible not only in Idaho but across the country, and people can’t get enough of Chobani,” the CEO said.