Fonterra goes Dutch with new dairy ingredients plant

Fonterra has commissioned a new dairy ingredients plant in the Netherlands. The plant produces whey and lactose specialty ingredients for high-value paediatric, maternal and sports nutrition products.

The 25-hectare site in Heerenveen, in the north of the Netherlands, is Fonterra’s first wholly owned and operated ingredients plant in Europe. The site was developed in partnership with Dutch cheese manufacturer A-ware Food Group.

The plant will produce 5000 metric tonnes of whey protein and 25,000 metric tonnes of lactose annually, and will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The company has hired 50 new employees for the site.

“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,” said Fonterra Chief Executive Theo Spierings.

“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.”