Built on a 25 hectare site that has been developed in partnership with Dutch cheese manufacturer A-ware Food Group, the plant was Fonterra’s first wholly owned and operated ingredients plant in Europe.
Chief executive Theo Spierings said the plant formed part of Fonterra’s fully integrated global supply chain from the farmgate direct to global consumers, using Fonterra’s milk pools and manufacturing sites in New Zealand, Australia and Europe.
“The commissioning of our new plant in Heerenveen 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,” Spierings said.
Fonterra regional director for ingredients in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Russia and CIS (EMEA) Hans Huistra said the plant’s location and capacity would enable Fonterra to better serve its European and global customer base to deliver a secure, reliable source of high-quality ingredient products.
The new plant would produce 5000 tonnes of whey protein and 25,000t of lactose annually. It would operate 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. About 50 new employees work for Fonterra at the site.
A-ware Food Group’s adjacent cheese plant was also recently commissioned on schedule.
