Fonterra Australia unveils AU$31m Woolworths private label milk plant

By Mark ASTLEY

- Last updated on GMT

The plant will churn out 115,000 bottles of Woolworths Select milk each day (Image: Twitter/BridgetJuneJudd)
The plant will churn out 115,000 bottles of Woolworths Select milk each day (Image: Twitter/BridgetJuneJudd)

Related tags Fresh milk Australia

Fonterra has expanded its site in Cobden, adding a AU$31m (US$22.4m) fresh milk plant to supply Australian retailer Woolworths.

The plant, officially opened by Jaala Pulford, the Australian Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development, will produce Woolworths Select fresh milk for stores in the Australian state of Victoria for the next decade.

Fonterra Australia landed the 10 year contract with Woolworths in Victoria in April 2014 - replacing its Australian rival Lion Dairy. 

It said then it would spend more than AU$30m to build a fresh milk plant at Cobden.

Around 115,000 bottles of fresh milk will leave the plant each day for Woolworths stores across Victoria.

"Last year we approached Woolworths with a plan to build a state-of-the-art facility that would bring fresh innovation to fresh milk," ​Judith Swales, managing director, Fonterra Australia, said at the opening.

"Woolworths shared our vision, and together we formed a ten-year partnership that would help us bring it to fruition."

"With the security of that ten year partnership Fonterra made a multi-million dollar investment into this amazing facility,"​ Swales added.

The plant, where 50 new jobs have been created, is a "concrete example"​ of the benefits of long-term milk contracts, Woolworths said.

“Woolworths is delighted that as a result of this contract Fonterra has the confidence to make a major investment in Victoria which benefits not just the industry but also our customers,”​ said Ewan Shearer, merchandise manager for chilled products, Woolworths.

“The new plant will deliver customer benefits like packaging innovations including induction seals that ultimately mean a better product on the supermarket shelf and in the fridge at home," ​Shearer added.

Related topics Business Oceania Industry growth Dairy

Related news

Related products

Elevate your snacks with novel cheese flavours

Elevate your snacks with novel cheese flavours

Content provided by Givaudan | 23-Feb-2024 | Product Brochure

Aside from conducting desk research to understand snacking preferences and taste profiles among consumers in the Asia Pacific, Givaudan also embarked on...

Mastering taste challenges in good-for-you products

Mastering taste challenges in good-for-you products

Content provided by Symrise | 12-Sep-2023 | White Paper

When food and beverage manufacturers reduce sugar, salt, or fat and add fibers, minerals or vitamins, good-for-you products can suffer from undesirable...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars

Food & Beverage Trailblazers

F&B Trailblazers Podcast