The Michigan Milk Producers Association launched Heritage Ridge Creamery June 24 as its Middlebury, Ind., cheese plant’s new brand, during a community Customer Appreciation Day event.

The new brand reflects both the heritage of the plant in its Amish community and the robust 100-year history of MMPA as a farmer-owned cooperative.

“With our acquisition of the Indiana cheese plant last fall, we were enthused by the opportunity to diversify our product portfolio and develop a brand owned by our dairy farmer members,” says Joe Diglio, MMPA general manager. “Our new Heritage Ridge Creamery brand demonstrates our commitment in expanding our presence within the dairy industry while embracing the legacy of the community.”

The day offered specials at the Heritage Ridge Creamery store, free ice cream made with a steam-powered engine and children’s activities.

The Heritage Ridge Creamery brand will market cheese produced at the Middlebury plant and sold in the on-site retail store. An online store is in development and expected to go live later this year at heritageridgecreamery.com. The facility produces Colby cheese, a softer, milder-flavored cheddar cheese, in addition to colby jack, cheddar, pepper jack cheese and other flavors.

The acquisition last year positions MMPA to further explore expansion opportunities at the Middlebury location in the future, starting with the launch of this new brand and internal improvements in plant operations. The facility processes about 400,000 pounds of milk per day into longhorn and deli horn cheeses, and is operated by MMPA’s wholly owned subsidiary, Middlebury Cheese Co. LLC.

Source: MMPA