After a fire in early 2023 halted cheese production at AMPI’s Portage facility, the farmer-owned dairy cooperative has been hard at work rebuilding and reimagining the plant’s future.
“The fire impacted the part of the plant where we make pasteurized process American cheese,” explained Sarah Schmidt, Vice President of Marketing for AMPI. “This includes the sliced and loaf-style cheeses that are perfect for burgers and dips.”
Fortunately, the fire did not damage the section that packages natural cheese like shredded and chunk cheeses. Still, the entire plant shut down for about six weeks to ensure a full cleanup. Once it was safe, production resumed in the natural cheese packaging area. However, the process cheese line remained down much longer.
“We had to move equipment from the damaged area to a different part of the plant,” Schmidt said. “That took time and also meant operating in a much smaller footprint.”
Even with limited space, AMPI was determined to get Portage running again. That’s because the plant plays a vital role in AMPI’s supply chain. “Milk from our co-op members goes to bulk cheese plants in Jim Falls and Blair,” said Schmidt. “That cheese then travels to Portage to be sliced or shredded for food service customers.”
Restaurants across the U.S.—and even some overseas—use AMPI’s cheese. In fact, international demand is growing. “We’ve seen exciting growth in Asia, the Middle East, and also North Africa,” said Schmidt. “It’s fun to see our products reach new places.”
As the rebuild continues, AMPI is taking the chance to modernize operations. “We’ve reconfigured the plant to improve flow and efficiency,” Schmidt explained. “Now, product enters one end, gets processed and packaged, then exits the other.” Even though the plant’s footprint stays the same, Schmidt said efficiency gains could lead to higher production volumes.
Portage is one of AMPI’s three Wisconsin plants. The other two are bulk natural cheese plants in Jim Falls and Blair. Outside Wisconsin, AMPI has plants in Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota.
Schmidt added that when AMPI sells closer to the consumer, more value goes back to the farmers. “We want strong returns on milk checks,” she said. “That’s what matters most.”
While AMPI may not be a household name, its cheese is behind many top brands. “Our motto is, ‘We make the dairy products that make your brand,’” Schmidt said. “We take that responsibility seriously.”
At the end of the day, it all comes back to AMPI’s farmer-owners. “Without our dairy farmers, none of this would exist,” said Schmidt. “We’re rebuilding for them—and for the future.”
