BRIEFLY

The Michigan Milk Producers Association, a dairy cooperative based in Novi, Mich., purchased the Guggisberg Deutsch Käse Haus in Middlebury, Ind., from Guggisberg Cheese Co.,  Millersburg, Ohio. The plant processes around 400,000 pounds of milk daily and employs 55 people.  The plant mainly produces Colby cheese, Colby jack, Monterey jack, Cheddar, pepper jack cheese and other flavors. 

Velvet Ice Cream, Utica, Ohio, opened a $3 million 23,000-square-foot warehouse freezer distribution facility, more than doubling the company’s freezing and picking capacity. “Our expansion allows us to improve sustainability, sharpen efficiencies and produce more delicious Velvet Ice Cream in order to meet increased demand,” said Velvet Ice Cream President Luconda Dager, adding that it positions the company for growth and expansion.

California cheesemaker Joseph Gallo Farms installed a 2-megawatt solar array that supplies renewable energy on-site for the family’s dairy farm. The fixed array system (7,840 solar panels on 8 acres) reduces the need for electricity from the local utility and avoids an estimated 27,500 metric tons of CO₂ emissions over the next 20 years, according to the company.

PEOPLE

Thrive Nutrition, which sells a functional ice cream product to healthcare, senior care and sports nutrition customers, named Alan Gessel president of its healthcare division.

Califia Farms, the marketer of nut milks and ready-to-drink coffees, named Karen Gifford its “chief people officer;” Jim Whitaker, vice president of sales of immediate consumption; Demir Vangelov, chief financial officer and Vilma Livas, vice president of marketing.