Bongards announces expansion

BONGARDS, Minn. — Bongards, a farmer-owned cooperative, announced plans to invest $135 million to expand its process cheese manufacturing facility in Bongards.

The project represents one of the largest capital investments in the cooperative’s 118-year history and reinforces its long-term commitment to serving customers with expanded production capabilities, innovative dairy solutions and industry-leading quality.

“Our cooperative was founded in 1908 by dairy farmers who believed in investing together to create opportunities for future generations,” said Scott Tomes, chief revenue officer for Bongards. “More than a century later, that same philosophy continues to guide us. This investment reflects the confidence we have in our customers, our employees, our member-owners and the continued growth opportunities for process cheese both domestically and internationally.”

Construction is scheduled to begin later this year, with commercial operations expected to commence by early 2028. Upon completion, the expansion will increase the facility’s production capacity by an additional 180 million pounds of process cheese annually, enabling Bongards to meet growing customer demand across the foodservice, retail, industrial ingredient and export markets.

The expansion will largely focus on additional capacity for existing capabilities. Bongards’ intent is to capture additional volume in certain product categories that they haven’t previously been able to focus on due to tight supply. Expansion of the Bongards plant will allow them to utilize more natural cheese for internal production needs, which Bongards hopes will add greater value to their patrons’ milk.

The expansion will add approximately 120,000 square feet to the production facility, including approximately 50,000 square feet of additional production space and a 70,000-square-foot automated warehouse designed to support greater efficiency and future growth.

“This investment is about much more than expanding production capacity,” said Dennis Thomas, CEO. “It demonstrates our commitment to remaining a world-class dairy manufacturer while strengthening the cooperative for future generations. As consumer demand evolves and global opportunities continue to expand, we are positioning Bongards to be the partner of choice for our customers and an enduring source of value for our member-owners.”

The expansion is expected to add 70-75 new plant employees and will feature state-of-the-art processing technology designed to improve manufacturing efficiency, enhance product consistency and provide additional flexibility to support customers’ evolving product needs. The project also reinforces Bongards’ commitment to manufacturing excellence while supporting the continued growth of Minnesota’s dairy industry.

Founded in 1908, Bongards has grown from a small Minnesota cooperative into a globally recognized dairy manufacturer serving customers throughout North America and around the world. The cooperative continues to invest in advanced manufacturing, product innovation and customer partnerships while remaining focused on delivering long-term value to its member dairy farm families.

Bongards has 247 patrons and its cheeses can be found in commercial restaurants, K-12 schools, retail delis and convenience stores. Corporate offices are based in Chanhassen and the company’s three production facilities are in Bongards, Perham and Humboldt, Tennessee.

The Perham plant recently completed an expansion which increased the total milk intake for new and existing patrons by over 30%.

Beyond increasing production capacity, this new investment is expected to generate significant economic activity throughout the region during construction and create long-term operational opportunities that will benefit the local community, cooperative members, suppliers and business partners. The expansion supports Bongards’ strategic vision of growing its presence in value-added dairy products while expanding relationships with U.S. and international customers.

As demand for high-quality process cheese continues to increase across multiple food categories, the additional capacity will ensure Bongards remains well positioned to support long-term customer growth.