Southwest Cheese Company LLC, a joint venture between Glanbia, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., Select Milk Producers Inc., and other dairy cooperative members of the Greater Southwest Agency Inc. was formed to operate the plant. Groundbreaking was scheduled to being the first week of February.

The venture is 50% owned by Glanbia headquartered in Twin Falls, Idaho, with the balance primarily owned by DFA and Select. Commissioning of the new plant is expected in late 2005, and it is expected to generate sales in the region of $350 million a year and employ about 220.

Milk for the facility will be supplied by the dairy cooperative members of the Greater Southwest Agency (DFA, Select, Lone Star and Zia).

Glanbia will provide operational management for the plant in addition to handling all cheese sales, while Glanbia Nutritionals, out of its U.S. office based in Monroe, Wis., will market the nutritional ingredients derived from the whey stream.