Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. is nearing completion of its most recent processing expansion at its facility in Dalhart, Texas. The expansion includes additional capabilities on an existing 40-pound, natural American-style cheese production line, and improvements to a variety of processes to better serve domestic and international customers.

Hilmar Cheese Company built the Texas facility from a green-field site in 2005. The company began processing cheese in September 2007.

In 2010, the facility expanded as part of Phase II. This included additional milk storage capacity and four additional milk receiving bays, and expansion to the natural American-style cheese production line.

On the whey processing side, additional equipment enhanced the whey protein product offering from four varieties to nine varieties. Shipping options expanded to include a Union Pacific rail line to the shipping dock of the facility.

Since 2010, other improvements have included additional water conservation and recycling capabilities.

Today, the Dalhart processing facility has grown to about 400 employees. Each day, the facility processes almost 1 million gallons of milk into cheese and whey products.

“One of our core values is constant improvement and innovation,” Ahlem asserts. “The company walks the talk by investing in new equipment and processes each year.”

The expansion is scheduled for completion in 2014.

The steady growth of the company continues to provide opportunity for dairies. Last June, Amarillo was the host location for the National Jersey Cow Convention. More than 150 dairy farmers from throughout the U.S. visited the region.

“The completion of this project provides the dairy farm families who ship milk to us the opportunity to grow their business,” concluded Ahlem. PD

—From Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. news release