Augusta County: Shamrock Farms commits $59M to major expansion

Shamrock Farms is investing $59 million in a major expansion of its operations in Augusta County, a project that will create 28 new jobs.

The Phoenix, Ariz.,-based dairy product manufacturer opened its East Coast facility in Mill Place Commerce Park in 2014.

Shamrock Farms-branded products are available across all 50 states and sold in 135,000 retail grocery and quick-serve restaurants, including Kroger, Ahold, Publix, Dollar General, Circle K and 7-Eleven.

“We are deeply grateful for the dedication and support from our associates and partners in Virginia. They have been instrumental in fueling remarkable growth for Shamrock Farms and allowed us to innovate in both products and processing,” said Kent McClelland, chairman and CEO of Shamrock Foods Co. 

“During this decade of expansion, Shamrock has added nearly 170 jobs in Virginia, and we remain committed to long-term economic growth and investment in this community for years to come,” McClelland said.

The expansion project announced on Tuesday will increase the Augusta County facility’s manufacturing capacity by reconfiguring space to accommodate a new production line and adding incremental cold storage.

As a result of this project, over the next four years, the company will purchase an additional $32.8 million, or 16.555 million pounds, of milk from Virginia dairy cooperatives.

This project marks Shamrock’s second major expansion in Augusta County, following a $40 million investment in 2017 that created more than 70 jobs.

“We are thrilled to see Shamrock Farms’ commitment to growing in Augusta County and supporting this area’s dairy industry and our overall economy,” Augusta County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey Slaven said. “Augusta County values existing businesses, and we thank Shamrock for valuing the talents of our workforce, strengthening our business community, and helping to foster our vital agricultural sector.”

Gov. Glenn Youngkin approved a performance-based grant of $600,000 from the Virginia Investment Performance grant program, as well as a $300,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, to go toward the project.

“Shamrock Farms’ decade of growth and investment in Augusta County is a powerful endorsement of Virginia’s business climate,” Youngkin said. “By enhancing their production capabilities here, Shamrock is helping to ensure that high-quality, locally produced dairy products continue to reach markets across the East Coast.”