Meijer announces new 'Purple Cow Creamery'

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Retailer Meijer Inc. plans to move into dairy production with a new "Purple Cow Creamery" that will supply stores in Michigan with its own brand of milk.

The Grand Rapids-based company on Thursday announced it has acquired plant operations at Holland-based Bareman's Dairy and plans to spend more than $8 million to expand the plant. The "Purple Cow Creamery" gets its name in part from the ice cream shops inside many Meijer stores.

The plant will produce white and chocolate milk in gallon and half-gallon sizes. It's expected to start shipping to Meijer stores in several months.