LONDONDERRY — The the town has conditionally approved plans for Stonyfield Farm's expansion of its facility on Burton Drive.
"A total of 62,019 square feet will be added in two phases," town planner Tim Thompson said. "It needs final approval from the Planning Board."
The first phase, which will begin next month, is for an incubator that will take up 16,439 square feet. The second phase will expand the packaging space by 43,280 square feet and an additional 2,300-square-foot space for charging batteries. In keeping with its green philosophy, Stonyfield uses large rechargeable batteries to power some of its equipment.
Stonyfield's current space is 195,000 square feet.
"We are planning for the future," said Diane Carhart, Stonyfield's chief operating officer. "We've had good growth in the first half of 2010, and we want to be ready to take advantage of growing consumer interest in organic foods."
The company, which makes organic yogurt, moved from its beginnings on a farm in Wilton to Londonderry in 1988. At the time, there were 32 employees producing 3,525 cases of yogurt a week under the leadership of president and "CE-Yo" Gary Hirshberg. Today, there are more than 450 employees.
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