KANSAS CIY, KAN. – Two processing plants formerly owned by SmithFoods will now be owned and operated by Dairy Farmers of America.

DFA announced Aug. 1 it acquired the facilities. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.

The processing plants – one in Richmond, Ind., and the other in Pacific, Mo. – make extended shelf life dairy and non-dairy beverages, as well as ice cream and shake mixes.

Now that the plants are operating within DFA’s dairy brands division, they will be renamed Richmond Beverage Solutions and Pacific Dairy Solutions.

DFA shared that the ownership shift will not impact operations at either plant, and the management teams that already were in place will remain in charge, with employees at both sites keeping their jobs.

“There is increasing consumer interest in extended shelf-life dairy products, and this acquisition aligns with our strategy to increase commercial investments and expand our ownership in this space,” said Pat Panko, executive vice president of DFA and president of DFA Dairy Brands North. “With the addition of these plants, we have an opportunity to not only grow our customer base, but also create synergies between our other extended shelf-life and aseptic facilities.”