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Date: August 12, 2005
Euphrates: Hamdi Ulukaya 518-762-3488
Euphrates Purchases Building, Expands Operations
Johnstown, NY
-- Euphrates, Inc, a manufacturer of Feta Cheese has announced that they have purchased their 40,621 square foot manufacturing operation in the Johnstown Industrial Park according to owner Hamdi Ulukaya. Crossroads Incubator Corporation had begun development of the plant for Euphrates Feta cheese production in 1998.
“The evolution of Euphrates Cheese in Fulton County has been dramatic. They came here from Turkey with an idea and a recipe. Now here they are, six years later manufacturing and distributing Feta Cheese all over the Eastern half of our country. As importantly, they are making a multi-million dollar investment in our community by purchasing their plant, strengthening their commitment to maintain jobs here for a long time to come,” said EDC executive Vice President, Jeff Bray.
Euphrates kicked off production in the first quarter of 2002 and now if you buy Feta cheese anywhere from Maine to Florida there is a very good possibility that it was made in the Johnstown Plant using a family recipe that was brought here from Istanbul, Turkey. Over 25,000 pounds of Feta is manufactured and distributed from the plant daily and plans are to double that number by the end of 2005.
Euphrates also announced this week that they have purchased a former Kraft Yogurt plant in Edmeston, New York in Chenango County. Agro-Farma Inc. will be a three story, 70,000 square foot operation that will produce “Greek Style” and other specialty yogurts beginning with a test production run in October.
Euphrates growth and product development speaks volumes about what Ulukaya has been able to accomplish in Fulton County.
“It is a testament to Hamdi’s business that Euphrates is able to parlay the strength of that business to acquire the Edmeston plant, reopen that facility and bring back New York State jobs that had been lost. I don’t believe that happens without his Johnstown success,” added Bray.
“After searching throughout the Northeast for the right location, the decision was made to come to this community. The proximity to dairy producers, transportation resources and a progressive business environment all combined to create a formula for success,” said Ulukaya. “I highly recommend Fulton County to anyone who is looking for a good return on their investment,” he added.
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