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Fonterra has confirmed plans to shutter two of its dairy processing plants in Waikato, New Zealand, affecting 41 employees. Fonterra’s director of NZ manufacturing, Alan Van Der Nagel, told FoodBev that ‘like all good businesses,’ Fonterra is ‘always looking to optimise our operations’. “Waitoa PDC (speciality powders) and the site’s coal centre, along with dryers one and two at Te Rapa, have served us well,” he added. “But they are ageing assets and are no longer efficient to operate. For these reasons, we have let our teams know of plans to close these plants. Our Waitoa and Te Rapa manufacturing sites will continue to operate.” Van Der Nagel said at its Waitoa plant, the impacted operations will discontinue near the end of 2024, with 41 roles impacted. “We are working with the team on redeployment opportunities within the Co-op,” he added. “We will continue to operate our specialty nutrition dryer and UHT plants at Waitoa.” At Te Rapa, Fonterra plans for the two impacted dryers to discontinue operations in May. The changes will enable Fonterra to ensure resource is geared towards high value products. “For example, we are increasing production capacity at Hautapu to meet growing demand for lactoferrin and at Pahiatua where we are gearing up to produce more caramelised milk powder for growing future demand,” Van Der Nagel commented. The co-op's main priority is to support those impacted by these changes. “We have sufficient vacancies on site to redeploy the small number of impacted roles,” Van Der Nagel concluded. You might also be interested in:

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