Zentis, the leading fruit processing company in the United States and Europe, today announced plans to build a new manufacturing facility in the state of Idaho.

This milestone in Zentis’ expansion within the U.S. adds a 100,000 square foot plant with more than 100 million pounds of production capacity and will be fully operational in the summer of 2014. The new plant will bolster an already strong network of Zentis manufacturing operations in Gardena, Calif.; Plymouth, and Philadelphia, Pa.

With a reputation that spans more than 50 years as a trusted partner to the dairy industry, Zentis embarked upon opening a new manufacturing plant in response to the continual growth of the yogurt category and the increased demand for customized, innovative fruit preparation solutions for new products.

“We are extremely proud of our hard-earned reputation in the industry for market leadership in yogurt, specifically, our innovative fruit solutions for all-natural yogurts and our relentless focus on quality control,” said Norbert Weichele, CEO, Zentis North America. “This investment will allow us to further build upon that reputation and better serve our long term dairy partners, who depend upon us to help them grow with innovative products that continually delight their consumers.”

Zentis was founded in 1893 in Aachen, Germany, where it continues to operate as a family-owned business. Today, Zentis is the leading fruit-processing company in the U.S. and Europe, and is one of the largest producers of jams and fruit spreads in Germany. Zentis’ reputation for producing only top quality products under the strictest quality control is renowned. Innovative developments for the dairy industry are a core competence of Zentis, such as the newest market introduction of stable chocolate and cereals for yogurt. Zentis employs more than 500 people in the U.S. and more than 1,800 worldwide. The company has received a number of awards for its activities promoting sustainability.

Source: Zentis North America Operating LLC, Inside INdiana Business