Fonterra, a multinational dairy co-operative, has announced plans to build two new cream cheese plants at its Darfield site in Canterbury, New Zealand.
With cream cheese undergoing a steady surge in popularity in Asia, the NZ $150 million two-stage project will see the first plant completed in 2018 with a second to follow in either 2019 or 2020.
Fonterra director of global food service, Grant Watson stated that Asian consumers are developing a preference for milk-based products.
When complete, Fonterra Darfield will become one of the largest producers of cream cheese in New Zealand, alongside the co-operative’s Te Rapa site.
In the NZ $100 million phase one of the project, which will be completed by August 2018, more than 30 jobs will be created. When operational, the plant will produce up to 24000MT of cream cheese each year for export.
The second phase will be completed by 2019 or 2020, depending on demand, and will produce 24000MT annually.
