March 21/Phoenix/Press Release -- Shamrock Farms announced the construction of a new $50 million state-of-the-art dairy manufacturing facility in Virginia. The announcement was made during a ground breaking ceremony in Augusta County, Virginia with the Governor of Virginia, Augusta County Economic Development representatives and Shamrock Farms executives.  This national expansion and increased capacity will allow Shamrock Farms to provide more new milk and milk-based products to people across the country.

Shamrock Farms has long been a leader in the dairy industry and its brands are helping move the dairy category forward, well beyond the traditional gallon of milk. For the past decade, Shamrock Farms has been developing new products and new categories, and the second production facility will help propel the company's innovation even further.

Among the key new product introductions are Shamrock Farms on the go mmmmilk and Rockin' Refuel protein fortified milk beverages used by sports teams in 150 colleges and universities nationwide. The brand has also expanded its national business in convenience stores, grocery and quick service restaurants such as Subway, Arby's and Einstein Brothers. Both products will be manufactured at the new facility.

"This is a key milestone in our company's more than 90 year history, and a natural next step as we continue to achieve even further national growth," said Kent McClelland , who is the third-generation of McClelland family leadership. "The Shamrock Farms brand stands for Real.Fresh.Ideas, which means a commitment to innovation and to providing authentic, high-quality dairy products."

Shamrock Farms will now have dual manufacturing capabilities, allowing us to better serve our customers and the U.S. population. The new facility will increase production capacity and better position us to respond to increasing demand. The new facility will feature the latest in extended shelf life (ESL) technology, which allows milk to stay fresher, longer. Shamrock Farms was among the first dairies in the country to introduce ESL technology more than 10 years ago.

Construction will begin in the coming months, and the facility is expected to open in late 2014. It will be 130,000 square feet initially, with room for expansion. Once completed, the plant will employ up to 60 people. Shamrock Farms will source its milk from Virginia-area farmers, and will ensure that it meets the same high quality standards as Shamrock's farm in Arizona.

Speaking about the announcement, Governor McDonnell said, "With this project, Virginia adds another major corporation to its roster. We warmly welcome Shamrock Farms to the Commonwealth and Augusta County, and appreciate the company's significant investment and creation of 60 new jobs. This new dairy manufacturing facility is the perfect fit for a region rich in agricultural history and committed to attracting industry that supports that history. I am confident Shamrock Farms will benefit from the skilled workforce and infrastructure available, while complementing the existing enterprise base, utilizing locally produced materials, including locally sourced milk, and helping advance the local economy."

McClelland added that Shamrock Farms is thrilled to be joining the Augusta County community because it's a perfect fit from both a business and a company culture perspective.

Shamrock Farms plans to immerse itself in the Augusta County community in the months and years ahead, as it has done in Arizona for decades. To kick off its relationship with the Augusta County community, Shamrock will be donating Rockin' Refuel to Fort Defiance High School athletic teams.