Mataura Valley Milk was building a dedicated nutritional plant north of Gore and plant manager Bernard May said the formulas it produced would comply with some of the highest quality standards in the world.
“We talk about building the world’s best nutrition plant and that includes a lot of very specific technology and processes which are now being put together and which are unique in Australasia.”
May said construction of the $250 million plant was on track for opening next August with work now focused on installing the machinery and technology needed to produce formula.
It had held discussions with farmers and in coming months would provide those interested in supplying the company with information so they could make decisions.
The company needed only 30 to 35 farmer suppliers because milk constituted only about 20% of the content of infant formula.
Farmers would own about 20% of the shares in the company, a move May said adopted the best elements of a co-operative by providing them with a stake in the processing and marketing of products.
Mataura Valley Milk would employ about 65 people with the exacting manufacturing process requiring highly qualified microbiologists and food scientists.
The company was 72% owned by China Animal Husbandry Group, 20% by farmer-suppliers with the rest of shareholders Hamilton based nutritional producer Bodco and local Southland investors.
Companies office records show China Animal Husbandry Group owned 57% of Bodco.
