More ham and cheese: the biggest or most plants are going to those proteins, but broad-based growth plans hint at an 11 percent increase in capital outlays this year.(growth of dairy industry)

Food Processing, April, 2006 by Fusaro, Dave

There are sonic real and widespread signs that capital spending will be up significantly in the food industry this year. At least for 21 of the largest companies, capital budgets this year appear destined for an 11 percent increase over 2005.

Meat and poultry appears to be the most active category, and pork products are particularly hot. Smithfield Foods and its subsidiaries are on a spending spree, with $354 million in projects all involving bricks and mortar expansions under way, although not all of that amount is allocated to the current year's budget.

But for the second year in a row, a cheese and whey plant takes the honor of being biggest project of the year. Hilmar Cheese Co., which already claims to have the world's largest cheese factory at...

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