Case Study
Shamrock Farms
The Right Site Fuels Expansions
Selecting the right site is more than weighing short-term benefits. Done well, it’s choosing the launch pad to fuel decades of growth and development.
There’s no better example than Shamrock Farms in Augusta County. Opening their doors in 2014 with a $50 million investment in a new 130,000 square foot food processing facility, immediate success led to a near-doubling expansion two years later, adding a $40 million investment and 70 more jobs. Not to be outdone, for their 10th on-site anniversary, they announced a third expansion, with $59 million invested.
Sustained success is a result of great location and regional teamwork. “We are deeply grateful for the dedication and support from our associates and partners in Virginia — they have been instrumental in fueling remarkable growth for Shamrock Farms,” said Kent McClelland, Chairman and CEO of Shamrock Foods Company.
Launch Site Ingredients: Great Access, Skilled Workforce
“Take a pin and look on the map, there couldn’t be a better place than Virginia, particularly here. It’s been very easy to get trucking. It’s been very easy with the workforce, a very skilled workforce,” says Tim Kelly, Senior Vice President of Shamrock Farms.
In selecting Augusta County, the I-814/I-64 interchange was ideal. Here, Shamrock Farms became a destination and purchaser for Virginia-produced fresh milk through the Maryland-Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative, and a major exporter to east coast markets.
The region’s workforce is skilled, accessible, and trainable. Incentives to support Shamrock’s location and expansions included training support from the Virginia Jobs Investment program, land donation, grant funding from the Commonwealth’s Development Opportunity Fund, road access funding from the Virginia Department of Transportation, and more. Over time, Shamrock continues to work with Blue Ridge Community College to further expand and enhance their workforce.
A History of Innovation and Growth at Shamrock Farms
The Shamrock Farms story began in 1922, catapulting to one of the largest family-owned dairies in the country through manufacturing a wide array of extended-shelf-life dairy products. Shoppers can find their Rockin’Protein® protein-fortified milk beverages and On-the-Go milks in retail chains and quick serve restaurants nationwide, including Kroger, SUBWAY Restaurants, Arby’s, 7-Eleven, and more. Headquartered in Phoenix, Shamrock’s family farm hosts a herd of more than 10,000 cows, combining family-run agriculture with cutting-edge innovation.
“During this decade of expansion, Shamrock has added nearly 170 jobs, and we remain committed to long-term economic growth and investment in this community for years to come,” says Kent McClelland, Chairman and CEO of Shamrock Foods Company.
