Sun Prairie-based Weyauwega Cheese is in the process of opening a new butter production facility in Sheboygan that could potentially employ up to 100 people.
Weyauwega currently produces some butter products out of its Sun Prairie facilities but is planning to shift that work to Sheboygan and expand production as Old World Creamery LLC. The butter products will eventually be marketed and sold under the name Old World Creamery LLC, an affiliate of Weyauwega Cheese and Scott’s of Wisconsin.
The new company is establishing operations at a former Dean Foods/Verifine facility at 1606 Erie Ave, which closed last year. The 70,000-square-foot facility has about 40,000 square feet of space dedicated to production and cooler space.
The plan is to begin production in two phases. The first will focus on packaging bulk butter in to various products including stick butter, rolled butter, European butter, butter tubs and butter cups.
Old World Creamery is currently hiring for the new operations and expects to have 10 to 20 people on staff initially. The goal is to begin packaging by Oct. 1, said Tara Benson, Old World Creamery quality assurance specialist.
The second phase will involve actual butter production, including taking cream from local farms and churning it.
Benson said the second phase will likely take place within the next year and employment will grow to accommodate it. She said the company is expecting to have at least 50 people on staff by then, but could reach 100 depending on demand.
Benson said the company was attracted to the facility since it was a former dairy, which limited the need for modifications.
The facility also has a large cooler. Benson said the plan is to use it for Weyauwega cold storage needs and rent space to others as well.
