Fonterra unveils new Dutch plant
The plant will produce 5,000 metric tonnes of whey protein and 25,000 metric tonnes of lactose annually. It will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. About 50 staff work at the site. A-Ware Food Group’s adjacent cheese plant was also recently commissioned on schedule.
Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings said: “The new plant further strengthens our ability to deliver high-quality, advanced dairy nutrition that meets the needs of our priority markets and global customers.
“Fonterra has substantial intellectual property in the manufacture of functional whey protein ingredients and had been looking for some time for a source of high quality whey to enable us to commercialise these innovations.
“Our partnership with A-Ware Food Group fits well with our strategic priorities aimed at increasing the volume and value of our ingredients and branded products,” he said.
Fonterra said the plant’s location and capacity would enable Fonterra to better serve its European and global customer base, delivering a secure, reliable source of high quality ingredient products.
The plant produces whey and lactose speciality ingredients for use in in high-value paediatric, maternal, and sports nutrition products by Fonterra and its global customers.
Built on a 25-hectare site that has been developed with Dutch cheese manufacturer A-Ware Food Group, the plant is Fonterra’s first wholly-owned and operated ingredients plant in Europe.
