Canada-based dairy company
Saputo Inc. has closed on the land in Franklin where it plans to construct an approximately 340,000-square-foot facility and employ about 600 people.
The company purchased 34 acres of vacant land southwest of West Oakwood Road and South 27th Street in Franklin on Monday for just over $7.08 million, according to state real estate transfer records.
“As part of its Saputo Dairy USA network, Saputo plans to build a new production facility in Franklin, Wisconsin. The new facility will play an integral part (in) Saputo’s strategy to optimize its cheese network across North America, laying the groundwork for future growth,” the company said in a
November email.
Based in Montreal, Canada, Saputo produces and distributes dairy products such as cheese, fluid milk, extended shelf-life milk and cream products, cultured products and dairy ingredients. It currently has plants in Waupun, and Lena, a small village north of Green Bay. It also has an office in Wauwatosa.
A call made to Saputo’s Montreal headquarters to get more information about the Franklin land purchase, and the construction timeline for the factory, was not immediately returned on Thursday afternoon.
But Franklin Mayor Steve Olson said Thursday that he has heard the company wants to get started on construction as soon as possible.