Nov 7, 2005 9:19 AM, from staff and wire reports

Leprino Foods is planning an $83 million expansion of its cheese production plant in Michigan's Allendale Township. This project is expected to create 53 new full-time jobs.

Denver CO-based Leprino Foods produces mozzarella cheese, mainly for pizza companies including the Pizza Hut, Domino’s, and Papa John’s national franchises.

The Allendale plant expansion likely will add another 10 million pounds to the roughly 70 million pounds of cheese now produced annually. Groundbreaking is anticipated sometime in November 2005, and the expanded plant should be operating within 12 months.