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Milk Specialties Global Begins Lactoferrin Production Following Major Infrastructure Project

Milk Specialties Global, a leading international whey and milk protein producer, is entering the lactoferrin market following a multi-million-dollar investment at the company’s Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin facility. The project, which will be completed in May, is in support of ongoing customer partnerships and to align with their future supply chain needs.

“The research around the health and immune benefits of lactoferrin is very compelling,” says David Lenzmeier, CEO of Milk Specialties Global. “We recognize that consumers are becoming more health conscious and we make it a priority to stay in tune with our customers. We are simply excited to play a key role in the development of the next generation of health-focused products.”

Lactoferrin is a unique protein fraction that occurs naturally in whey protein. Lactoferrin comprises only a tiny portion of the overall whey protein but offers powerful health benefits when concentrated. There is a growing body of research around the benefits of concentrated lactoferrin for all life stages including enhanced immune system support, promotion of “good” prebiotic bacteria for positive gut health and improved iron status. Recent studies have brought lactoferrin’s antiviral properties to the forefront, demonstrating that it can favorably influence human cell response to COVID-19 infection.

“Milk and its components are such an incredible canvas to create innovative products,” says Tom Benson, Executive Vice President at Milk Specialties Global. “As the world is becoming more health focused, we saw an opportunity to diversify our portfolio, deepen our commitment to customers and grow with them in the future.”

Lactoferrin is part of Milk Specialties’ NutriPRO™ family of products and comes in a wide range of concentration options – from 0.15 percent purity up to 95 percent purity. Lactoferrin is highly functional and can be used in a wide range of applications. Along with being a core ingredient in infant formula, lactoferrin is ideally suited for health supplements, medical nutrition products, ready-to-mix drinks and functional foods.

Stacey Pexa Lodden, Vice President of Human Resources, honored as Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal 2020 Woman in Business

Stacey Pexa Lodden, Vice President of Human Resources, honored as Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal 2020 Woman in Business 

Hard work, dedication and persistence pays off. Stacey Pexa Lodden, Vice President of Human Resources, has led Milk Specialties Global through significant growth by increasing employee headcount, strengthening employee retention, and instilling a purpose, vision and values program company-wide. Stacey is instrumental in executing policies and procedures that are currently the core of Milk Specialties Global today.  

Joining Milk Specialties Global as Human Resources Manager in 2012, Stacey quickly rose to Director of Human Resources in 2013 and Vice President of Human Resources in 2016.  Under her leadership, MSG has experienced 70% growth, increasing headcount from 520 employees to 880 employees in 2020. 

Pexa Lodden’s planning and leadership resulted in the expansion of the company’s Eden Prairie, MN, Headquarters as well as significant growth in the company’s Wautoma, WI & Norfolk, NE manufacturing facilities.  Stacey successfully integrated a newly acquired facility in Monroe, WI in 2016 as well as led initiatives to acquire a new Research & Development lab for the company’s Animal Nutrition Business Unit in Edina, MN in 2017.  

Impacting all Milk Specialties Global employees, Ms. Pexa Lodden implemented a unified HRIS & Payroll/timekeeping system for the entire organization in 2015. From start to finish, Stacey led MSG’s company-wide purpose, vision, and values, as well as implemented talent management processes in 2017. 

Stacey has demonstrated a dedicated involvement to her field and industry by receiving her SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) Certification in 2010 and being an active member of SWMHRA (Southwest Metro Human Resources Association) since 2012. Outside of her professional life, Stacey enjoys time with her husband and two daughters, and has been a certified Feng Shui Practitioner since 2013.  

We extend our sincerest gratitude to Stacey for her hard work, dedication, and outstanding leadership at Milk Specialties Global. 

Milk Specialties Global’s Statement on Operational Status During COVID-19 Pandemic


***Given the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, this statement will be updated as new developments occur and will be time and date stamped each time a change is made.
Last update: Wednesday, March 18, 2020, 3:30pm (CST)

These are extraordinary times. With the global spread of COVID-19 reaching pandemic levels, it is critical that we all do what we can to help reduce the spread and bring this virus under control.

At Milk Specialties Global, we take the obligation to do our part very seriously. The health and well-being of our employees, customers, consumers, business partners, and communities is of utmost importance to us. With this in mind, we are taking many precautionary measures in our business and operating practices.

As a leading North American producer of dairy protein ingredients and animal nutritional supplements, we already have strict safety policies and procedures in place. Our strong biosecurity programs that we follow for food safety also work as protection against this virus. We will continue to maintain these high standards. We are also leveraging our biosecurity and food safety knowledge to develop plans to enhance our business practices in non-operational environments.

Below outlines a number of steps we have taken once concerns about the spread of the virus started to escalate:

  • Restricting non-business critical visitors into our locations and implemented a visitor screening tool.
  • Communicated and implemented self-quarantine measures.
  • Supporting employees to work from home whenever possible and where that is not possible, we are taking additional precautions, including implementing practices that maximize social distance when we can.
  • We are leveraging technology to facilitate meetings and other interactions as much as possible.
  • We are prohibiting air business travel.
  • If team members or members of the household are traveling personally, they are asked to report the travel to Human Resources so that our quarantine policies can be properly applied.
  • Diagnostic lab testing of COVID-19 is covered at 100% under company medical plans.
  • Of course, anyone experiencing any symptoms is required to stay home. Benefits have been put in place to assist employees with COVID-19 related absences.

We will continue to monitor developments and will further adapt our policies and practices as new information becomes available. To keep our employees informed, we have created an email box for employee questions related to COVID-19 and continue to provide updated information as we have it.

We are also sharing information with our stakeholders as we work together to do the right thing.

At the present time, all plants are operating, and our company is only minimally impacted. We continue to ship and export normally and we have not experienced any significant issues with our ability to procure necessary supplies. We will continue to work very closely with our supply chain partners and given that the situation is extremely fluid, we will continue to engage in thorough contingency planning.

We recognize that our protein ingredients and animal nutritional supplements are essential in nourishing both people and animals, and a critical piece of our customers’ supply chain. We are committed to continuing to execute our business with excellence, maintaining operational stability and the health of our people and being vigilant in the steps we are taking to mitigate the risk of the spread of the virus in the communities where we operate.