Jan. 7, 2026
WESTBY, Wis. — As Westby Cooperative Creamery embarks on 2026 with a major expansion project, the Cooperative on Tuesday unveiled a refreshed logo and packaging design intended to reflect the company’s bold steps toward securing its future as the “Cottage Cheese Capital of Wisconsin.”
The updated look, announced Jan. 7, introduces modern fonts and a refined color palette while honoring the creamery’s farmers-first tradition. Officials likened the rebrand to “giving a barn a fresh coat of lime”.
The redesign comes amid a massive modernization effort at the Westby facility. In late 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development announced funding to help finance a $14.1 million expansion project.
New Look, Same Product
The redesigned packaging pays tribute to the Creamery’s heritage while aiming to make it easier for consumers to spot key benefits, such as clear protein callouts and QR codes that connect shoppers with farm stories and wholesome recipes.
Shoppers can expect to see the new packaging in stores throughout the region and at the Westby Creamery Cheese Store in the coming months. The cooperative assured customers that while the look is new, “no recipes have been altered in the transition” and the quality remains unchanged.
True to its cooperative spirit, Westby Creamery involved multiple focus groups — including farmers, consumers, industry partners, and distributors — to ensure the design reflects everyone who helps make the business thrive.
Expansion and Funding Context
The rebranding coincides with critical infrastructure upgrades. The modernization is supported by a loan through the USDA Rural Development Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan program, executed in partnership with Security Financial Bank. This funding is a loan guaranteed by the federal government rather than a direct grant, a mechanism the USDA uses to support cooperatives and rural employment.
The capital investment is designed to align production capacity with surging consumer demand for cottage cheese.
“Our current equipment is continuing to age so before it meets end-of-life, we want to modernize and, just as important, we want to meet customer demand for this dairy food,” JD Greenwalt, the Creamery’s CEO and president, said when the project was announced.
Operational Changes
The expansion will physically alter the creamery’s operations by replacing a labor-intensive, open-vat process with automated technology. The project includes the installation of four fully enclosed cottage cheese vats, each capable of producing up to 5,700 pounds of cheese per run.
According to the cooperative, the new equipment will reduce production time from 16 hours down to eight. The system is also expected to increase yield by 10% to 15% from the same amount of milk while improving employee safety by reducing physical strain.
The project is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2026.
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