Big Mac Cheese Contract Spurs $8-Million Expansion for Schreiber
The growth comes on the heels of contracts to supply cheese to the McDonald's fast-food chain's locations in Argentina and Chile, according to the Gazeta Mercantil newspaper in Brazil. The company is also reportedly negotiating additional contracts with the chain restaurant to supply Brazilian and Uruguayan subsidiaries.
McDonald's reportedly bought 3,610 tons of cheese in Brazil last year, a 20.1% increase over 1998. Most or all of that cheese was sold by Bongrain.
The newspaper said that Schreiber's Rio Azul plant will produce nearly 2,000 tons of cheese the first year and 5,000 tons in 2001—half its projected total capacity. The newspaper said the company plans to invest $2 million per year until 2003 "to increase its production capacity to 25,000 tons of cheese per year" and that it expects to generate $38 million in Brazil sales "until 2003."
Other foreign production facilities owned by the Green Bay, WI-based Schreiber Foods are in Germany and Mexico. The company currently sells to more than 20 countries.
U.S. plants are located in Wisconsin (Green Bay and Wisconsin Rapids); Minnesota (Lakeville and Carthage); Missouri (Clinton, Monett and Mount Vernon); Utah (Logan and Smithfield) and Tempe, AZ.
