Fonterra and Royal A-ware Open New Partnership Site in the Netherlands
New Zealand-based dairy co-operative Fonterra and Dutch cheese manufacturer Royal A-ware have officially opened their new site at Heerenveen in the Netherlands. Heerenveen consists of two plants side by side; A-ware’s plant produces cheese for its customers in Europe, while Fonterra’s plant processes the whey and lactose from A-ware’s plant, as by-products of the cheese-making process.
The 25-hectare site represents a significant investment and will give Fonterra cost-effective, reliable and continual access to high-quality whey and lactose, to use in manufacturing high-value paediatric, maternal and sports nutrition products.
It is Fonterra’s first wholly owned and operated ingredients plant in Europe, processing one billion litres of milk each year, and producing 5,000 metric tonnes of whey protein and 25,000 metric tonnes of lactose annually. The partnership increases Fonterra’s ability to access a globally traded whey protein and lactose market that was worth more than NZ $2.7 billion in 2014.
The site is an integral part of Fonterra’s long-term strategy for building global milk pools.
“Our strategy is a good fit with A-ware’s long-term vision, so it’s a win-win for both companies and it’s great to see the partnership come to fruition,” explains Theo Spierings, chief executive of Fonterra. “We have substantial intellectual property in manufacturing functional whey protein ingredients, and having a high-quality, high-volume source based in Europe will allow us to commercialise these innovations for our customers all over the world.”
“This strategic partnership logically connects two successful businesses so they can optimally align their chain from consumer to cow, thereby effectively meeting the demands of the end-user,” says Jan Anker, chief executive of Royal A-ware.
CAPTION:
His Majesty the King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander (centre) officially opening the new premises of cheese manufacturer Royal A-ware and dairy co-operative Fonterra in Heerenveen. Also pictured are Theo Spierings (left), CEO of Fonterra, and Jan Anker (right), CEO of Royal A-ware.
