Leprino Nutrition Completes $35 Million Lubbock Expansion

The expansion quadruples production capacity for microparticulated whey protein at the company's Lubbock facility.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Consumer Goods

Isometric editorial illustration of a stainless steel industrial centrifuge and pipes, representing food manufacturing facility expansion.
Leprino Nutrition has finalized a $35 million expansion at its Lubbock, Texas facility, quadrupling production capacity for microparticulated whey protein concentrates. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Leprino Nutrition has finalized a $35 million expansion of its Lubbock, Texas, manufacturing facility. This project quadruples the site's production capacity for microparticulated whey protein, specifically targeting the MP PRO C80 concentrate.

Why it matters

The investment enables the company to better meet rising global demand from food and beverage manufacturers for high-protein content without sacrificing product taste, texture, or stability.

The $35 million expansion is expected to bring 20 million pounds of whey protein concentrate to the market annually. This facility joins the Fort Morgan, Colorado, plant as one of only two sites producing this ingredient for global markets.

The players

Leprino Nutrition

Based in Denver, Colorado, this company is a major global supplier of dairy ingredients to brands in over 70 countries.

The details

The production process utilizes externally sourced whey solids to create protein particles that mimic the size of milk fat globules. These ingredients are distributed to various brands across more than 70 countries.

Timeline

  1. The expansion was confirmed as complete in October 2026.

Market Landscape

The Lubbock expansion highlights a broader industry shift toward scaling production of highly specialized, functional ingredients to meet diverse consumer health needs. This move bolsters Leprino Nutrition's ability to maintain a competitive advantage in the global dairy ingredients market.

As manufacturers gain access to more stable, high-protein ingredients, shoppers may see a greater variety of food and beverage products that maintain desired textures while meeting health goals. This expansion ensures a steadier supply chain for protein-fortified goods found on local grocery shelves.

The takeaway

Modern food production increasingly relies on specialized microparticulated proteins to balance nutritional goals with sensory quality. Investing in these manufacturing capabilities allows brands to deliver stable, protein-dense products to a global consumer base.

Further reading

Learn more about the latest industry developments in the Consumer Goods sector.

Source note: This article includes information reported by ColoradoBiz.

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