KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), Kansas City’s largest private company with approximately $18 billion in revenue in 2014, has announced plans to build its new global headquarters in Kansas City, Kan.
The announcement means the company will relocate its 325 employees from space it has leased in Missouri since its formation in 1998, to a state-of-the-art building being constructed in the expanded Village West area in Wyandotte County.
Owned by more than 15,000 dairy farmers across the country, and invested in brands such as Borden Cheese, Kemps, Keller’s Creamery and Hiland Dairy, DFA is the nation’s largest milk marketing cooperative. An exporter of dairy products and powders to nearly 50 countries, DFA is also the sixth-largest global dairy company.
“This building will pay tribute to our cooperative’s farmer-owners and the sustainable practices they employ on their dairies,” said Rick Smith, DFA president and chief executive officer. “More importantly, as DFA strives to be the workplace of choice for employees, the new building will feature a modern, flexible work environment designed for employees of today and tomorrow.”
This is the Kansas City-based cooperative’s second announcement in regard to building facilities in the state, strengthening Kansas’ global agriculture footprint. In late 2014, DFA confirmed plans to build a $235 million state-of-the-art dairy ingredients plant in Western Kansas. The plant, to be built in partnership with Chinese dairy company Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group and Kansas dairy producers, will manufacture milk powder for the export market.
"This move recognizes the important role Kansas plays in the dairy and agriculture industry, and we are pleased to welcome DFA to Kansas City, Kansas,” Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback said. “They are a leader in America's dairy industry and their decision to relocate to Kansas reflects our commitment to growing agriculture in Kansas."
Expected completion of the global headquarters project is December 2016. The ingredients facility is expected to be operational in 2017.
