©Fonterra
New Zealand dairy cooperative Fonterra has announced the opening of a new AUD $150 million ($119 million) cheese plant in Australia which the company hopes will help meet growing demand.
The factory, based in Victoria, will replace the previous plant which was destroyed by a fire in December 2014.
Fonterra Australia managing director René Dedoncker said: “Fonterra is the leader in Australia’s $2 billion consumer cheese category, the market leader in foodservice, providing dairy solutions to chefs across Australia, and one of Australia’s top dairy ingredients exporters.
“The new Stanhope cheese plant helps us build on our market position, ensuring we have a sustainable business that delivers to everyone along the value chain.”
The new cheese plant can process up to 1.3 million litres of milk every day as the company realises a growing demand for cheese domestically and in China and Japan.
Meanwhile, Fonterra is paying €7.1 million for a 10% stake in AB Rokiškio sūris as the Lithuanian dairy firm looks for resources to expand its export operations.
Dalius Trumpa, chairman of Rokiskio Suris, said: “Fonterra is a leading global company, and by becoming a shareholder of Rokiskio Suris it lifts our company to the very different, global level.”
The companies have been commercial partners for several years, with Fonterra sourcing raw material from it to make speciality products in Europe.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024