FDBusiness.com

ESI Nutrition – the new nutrition division of French dairy co-operative Laïta – has just received approval from Chinese authorities (GACG – General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China), allowing the business to produce infant formulas in powder for China at its new industrial site, Laiterie Nouvelle de l’Argenon.

With the start of operations at this brand new facility at Créhen in Brittany, a little over a year ago, “obtaining this certification is a recognition of the company’s long-term investment in cutting-edge equipment and of our commitment to second-to-none quality procedures in order to produce premium powders meeting and exceeding the very strict standards of infant nutrition,” explains Mathieu Lucot, marketing manager at ESI Nutrition.

This formal recognition is a big milestone for the company and comes about two years after the approval granted to the company to sell its liquid infant nutrition offerings in China; thereby allowing the group to broaden its presence on the Chinese market with a complete range of products adapted to different lifestyles and demographics.

Ten years ago, in the wake of its melamine scandal, China started to implement incrementally stringent regulations to better control the supply of infant formula both domestic and imported. Receiving this approval thereby sends a strong message to the industry about the quality of ESI Nutrition’ products and the company’s continuous commitment to providing the highest level of service and product excellence, thereby building customers trust and confidence.

“With only a minority of Chinese mothers breast-feeding, the Chinese infant nutrition market is one of the largest in the world and continuously growing. This new approval will allow us to develop our reach in the area by providing nutritionally-adapted solutions that best support infant’s growth and development; especially as foreign offerings are still viewed by Chinese consumers as safer and higher-quality,” Mathieu Lucot adds.

Laïta is one of the top 10 dairy co-operatives in Europe and oversees the entire milk collection process from local dairy farms, all located in Western France. No farm is more than 100 kilometers away from the plant that processes its milk, therefore ensuring the highest levels of traceability.