Italian probiotic company to establish U.S. operations with manufacturing facility

MADISON, WI. April 8, 2019 – Centro Sperimentale del Latte (CSL) USA Inc., a probiotic company, plans to establish its first operations in the U.S. with a manufacturing facility in Racine County—a multimillion-dollar project expected to create up to 31 jobs over the next four years.

“Wisconsin is known as a leader in the dairy industry, and we are proud to welcome a global company like Centro Sperimentale del Latte to our great state,” said Mark R. Hogan, secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), the state’s lead economic development organization. “This investment is the latest example of the many companies choosing to establish or expand operations in Wisconsin because of our strong business climate and dedicated workforce.”

Centro Sperimentale del Latte was established in 2018 to be the operating entity for the new probiotic manufacturing facility located in Racine County. The company’s parent entity, Sacco, is an Italian corporation founded in 1948 working in microbial cultures for food and dairy supplements. Today, the company researches, develops, manufactures and sells probiotics, lactic acid bacteria, molds and yeasts intended for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, dairy, food and agro-livestock sectors.

Centro Sperimentale del Latte’s related entity, PROBIO RE LLC, has recently purchased its first U.S. location, with plans to establish a newly constructed manufacturing facility on a 25-acre site in Franksville. The facility will produce probiotics and related materials.

The company chose the facility due to the growing probiotic supplement market in the U.S. as well as the close proximity to specialty cheesemakers throughout Wisconsin.

WEDC is supporting the project by authorizing up to $350,000 in state income tax credits over the next four years. The actual amount of tax credits Centro Sperimentale del Latte will receive is contingent upon the number of jobs created and the amount of capital investment during that period.

Local and regional officials applauded Centro Sperimentale del Latte for its decision to grow in the region.

“Racine County’s central location in the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor continues to be an asset, especially for international companies establishing their first location in the United States,” said Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave. “At this unprecedented time in our county’s history, we are excited that CSL will call Racine County home and we are grateful for their investment in our community.”

“We are pleased CSL chose to locate in the Caledonia Business Park,” said Caledonia Village Board President Jim Dobbs. “The company is a great addition to our community, and we look forward to construction starting on their project.”

To facilitate the project, the Caledonia Village Board approved a pay-as-you-go incentive that will be linked to property tax increment financing created by the construction of Centro Sperimentale del Latte’s new facility.