SunOpta has opened a fourth production line at its beverage plant in Midlothian, Texas. The $35 million line is expected to raise capacity across the company’s manufacturing network by 10%. The Minneapolis-based co-manufacturer, which became a subsidiary of Dutch beverage group Refresco earlier this year, announced the opening this week.
“We’re strengthening our ability to support customers with the scale, flexibility and reliability they need today and well into the future”
The Midlothian site makes plant-based milks, creamers and tea for brand owners, retailers and foodservice operators. SunOpta says the extra volume will serve existing customers and let it take on new ones. It adds that making more product in Texas puts output closer to where its customers distribute.
Half-gallon and Edge formats added
The new line adds half-gallon cartons and 32-ounce Edge-style packs to the plant’s existing 16-ounce, 32-ounce and 330-milliliter formats. Larger pack sizes allow the site to supply more of the retail and club channels, where half-gallon plant-based milks compete directly with conventional dairy on shelf.
SunOpta opened the Midlothian facility in 2023 with 285,000 square feet and designed it to expand to 400,000 square feet. It employs more than 220 people. According to the company, water reuse equipment at the site can save up to 20 million gallons a year, and its HVAC system uses 45% less energy than a standard installation.
First capacity news since the Refresco deal closed
Refresco completed its acquisition of SunOpta on May 1, 2026, under an all-cash agreement valued at approximately $1.1 billion. SunOpta was delisted from Nasdaq and the Toronto Stock Exchange as part of the deal. Refresco, headquartered in Rotterdam, bottles and packs drinks for global and local brands in North America, Europe and Australia. SunOpta now operates seven manufacturing facilities in six markets.
Brian Kocher, CEO of SunOpta, noted “By investing in our existing footprint and capabilities, we’re strengthening our ability to support customers with the scale, flexibility and reliability they need today and well into the future.”
