Dairy

Fonterra: Asia behind global foodservice growth

17-Oct-2013 By RJ Whitehead

The world’s biggest dairy company, Fonterra, believes that global foodservice growth is being driven by the emerging Asian markets, where it estimates the category will increase at around 13% per year until at least 2016.

Dairy imports will continue to grow as China sorts out domestic supply

16-Oct-2013 By RJ Whitehead

China’s demand for dairy imports look set to grow for at least the next two years, while its local milk production struggles under structural change in the supply chain. 

Opinion

China’s red-faced diplomacy meets with Kiwi gritted teeth

09-Oct-2013 By RJ Whitehead

New Zealand’s prime minister, John Key, must be laughing on the inside following the friendly advice given to him earlier this week by the Chinese premier and broadcast by state media.

Saputo looks set to acquire Australian dairy Warrnambool

08-Oct-2013 By Fiona Barry

Canadian dairy giant Saputo has signed a deal that could see it acquire a 100% stake in dairy processor Warrnambool.

Danone seeking €200m damages from Fonterra over WPC recalls

07-Oct-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

Danone has confirmed that it is seeking around €200m ($270m) in compensation from Fonterra to cover the costs associated with the infant formula product recalls it ordered in response to the New Zealand-based dairy exporter's recent whey protein...

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW AT GLANBIA'S KILKENNY PLANT

Glanbia: We’re gearing up to meet ‘unrelenting’ Asian dairy demand

04-Oct-2013 By Fiona Barry

Irish dairy giant Glanbia has pinpointed infant formula-hungry Asia as “a key market” as it continues its preparations for the abolition of the European Union (EU) milk quotas.

Fonterra appoints new Apac head

03-Oct-2013

Fonterra has announced the appointment of a new head for its Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa business unit.

Fonterra, Danone in talks to resolve WPC botulism dispute

02-Oct-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

Fonterra has denied it has “any legal liability” to Danone in relation to its recent whey protein concentrate (WPC) contamination scare, despite being in talks with the French dairy giant over the possible payment of compensation.

Cargill cultivates carrageenan supply chain

01-Oct-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Cargill says it is diversifying its carrageenans portfolio in both location and species to combat the associated supply risks of the texturing ingredient derived from seaweed.

China’s big two dairies break into world’s top 15

30-Sep-2013 By RJ Whitehead

While the world’s five biggest dairy players continue to maintain a firm hold on their positions for another year, Rabobank’s annual survey into the industry’s top 20 giants is notable for the ongoing rise of Chinese players and the slippage of US companies...

Emerging markets such as India must reform to reignite dairy growth

27-Sep-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Slowing dairy sales growth in Brazil and India during Q2 2013 means that reforms and infrastructure upgrades are likely necessary to reignite such emerging markets, according to Rabobank.

China milking global dairy market as supplies falter at home

25-Sep-2013 By RJ Whitehead

With dwindling domestic supplies, China’s move to buy up huge quantities of milk from international markets is having a significant impact on buyers in other countries, while also bolstering dairy prices across the world.

Opinion

NZ weathered Fonterra storm, but can its reputation remain 100% Pure?

19-Sep-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Warren Buffett famously once warned: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.”

Time is right for foreign companies to milk India’s dairy industry

12-Sep-2013 By RJ Whitehead

As one of the world’s largest-volume dairy markets, India is often forgotten, but now specialist agricultural bank Rabobank believes the time has come for global players to start investigating the market's potential. 

Russia removes temporary Fonterra dairy import ban

09-Sep-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

Russia has lifted the temporary import and distribution ban imposed on Fonterra dairy products following the New Zealand-based dairy cooperative's decision to recall three batches of whey protein concentrate (WPC) potentially contaminated with botulism-causing...

Challenges remain as China's Bright mulls deal with Israel’s Tnuva

06-Sep-2013 By William Hao Wei Yang

Chinese food giant Bright Food Group is poised to begin negotiations for a deal to buy Tnuva Food Industries, Israel’s largest food company. 

AgResearch 'recommended further testing' of recalled Fonterra WPC

05-Sep-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

New Zealand research organisation AgResearch has moved to distance itself from Fonterra's decision to recall three batches of whey protein concentrate (WPC), rubbishing claims that it "confirmed the presence" of Clostridium botulinum in...

Benecol yoghurt’s Hong Kong launch is first step into coveted China

05-Sep-2013 By Richard Whitehead in Hong Kong

Raisio has just launched its Benecol yogurt drinks line in Hong Kong, its latest push to broaden its reach in the emerging Bric markets. Wing Kee Produce will act as the Finnish company’s local distributor. 

Fonterra, NZ, Sri Lanka meet to resolve DCD protest issues

03-Sep-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

Fonterra, New Zealand and the Sri Lankan government have met to “discuss progress in resolving” the recent issues that led to the closure of all Fonterra Brands Lanka faculties last month.

Danone reviewing Fonterra WPC botulism false alarm ‘compensation options’

02-Sep-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

Danone is reviewing its “recourse and compensation options” in relation to the Fonterra whey protein concentrate (WPC) botulism alert that led it to pull potentially-affected infant formula products from shelves in eight countries.

Kiwi officials ramp up charm offensive in wake of Fonterra scare

02-Sep-2013 By RJ Whitehead

New Zealand officials have launched a charm offensive on two of the countries where the Fonterra fallout has been most widely felt.

'No plans' to sue Fonterra over false WPC botulism alarm, says Nutricia

29-Aug-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

Danone-owned Nutricia has rubbished reports that it is considering legal action against Fonterra over the false whey protein concentrate (WPC) botulism alarm that led it to recall 67,000 units of Karicare infant formula in New Zealand.

Opinion

Fonterra's problem lies mainly in how it communicates with the Chinese

29-Aug-2013 By RJ Whitehead

The longstanding dairy relationship between China and New Zealand ought not to have worked so well, but it has, and will continue to, in spite of two substantial safety scares this year alone.

False alarm is good news, but false positive must be investigated

28-Aug-2013 By RJ Whitehead

The news that there was no botulism risk from Fonterra’s batches of whey will come as a huge relief to the company and consumers around world, according to New Zealand Food & Grocery Council chief executive and FoodNavigator-Asia commentator Katherine...

Fonterra latest

Botulism scare was a false alarm, reveals NZ ministry

28-Aug-2013 By RJ Whitehead

New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries have confirmed the scare surrounding contaminated whey protein concentrate supplied by dairy giant Fonterra was a false alarm. 

Fonterra rubbishes Sri Lankan court summons reports

22-Aug-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

Fonterra has rubbished reports that four Sri Lanka-based executives have been summoned to face contempt of court charges over the company's alleged failure to comply with a ban on the sale and advertising of its milk products in the country.

China’s milk formula pilot scheme ignores the real food safety issues

22-Aug-2013 By RJ Whitehead

A move by Chinese authorities to begin a pilot scheme that will eventually require all baby formula sold in the country to be distributed by pharmacies or equivalent stores has been criticised for not addressing the real problem of safety.

Health awareness and scares behind rise of non-dairy toppings in India

22-Aug-2013 By Raynah Coutinho

Fueled by growing health concerns and new-found awareness of lactose intolerance among the consumers, India’s non-dairy toppings segment is growing in strength. 

Soapbox

Reality of ‘botulism scare’ only understood once it is put in context

21-Aug-2013 By Katherine Rich, CEO of the NZ Food & Grocery Council

Julian Baggini is one of my favourite thinkers, and his entertaining and thought-provoking book, Do They Think You Are Stupid: 100 Ways Of Spotting Spin And Nonsense From The Media, Pundits And Politicians, is an excellent resource for anyone in the food...

'Room for improvement' in NZ dairy safety systems, says regulator

20-Aug-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is considering the provisional implementation of stricter food safety measures in the dairy industry following a recent spate of high-profile product contamination cases.

Fonterra suspends senior managers over WPC botulism scare

19-Aug-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

Fonterra has placed two senior managers “on leave” in the midst of an internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the recent Clostridium botulinum whey protein concentrate (WPC) contamination scare.

Can India grow dairy powder exports to China in wake of NZ crisis?

19-Aug-2013 By Raynah Coutinho

According to the chief of India’s biggest dairy exporter, India’s milk product exports could jump my more than one-half this year in light of China’s fractured relationship with New Zealand following the latest Fonterra crisis.

India’s regulator issues new draft standards for infant nutrition

19-Aug-2013 By Ankush Chibber

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed new standards for infant nutrition, substitute foods, fortified atta (flour) and ingredients as part of a wide overhaul of its standards.

GLG Lifetech works with China’s largest food company to tackle obesity, diabetes epidemic with stevia

15-Aug-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Stevia supplier GLG Lifetech is working with China’s largest food company - state-owned COFCO (China National Cereals, Oils, and Foodstuffs Corporation) - on three major healthy food and beverage formulation projects.

Fonterra NZ Milk Products MD resigns in midst of botulism scare

14-Aug-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

Fonterra NZ Milk Products boss, Gary Romano, has resigned “with immediate effect” less than two weeks after news broke that 38 tonnes of whey protein concentrate (WPC) manufactured by the company could be contaminated with botulism-causing Clostridium...

Contamination crisis

Spierings claims Chinese ‘appreciated’ Fonterra's response to crisis

08-Aug-2013 By RJ Whitehead

The tone of Theo Spierings, chief executive of Fonterra, changed from mea culpa earlier in the week to defiance last night as he assured New Zealanders that Chinese authorities and consumers had “appreciated” the speed with which Fonterra had acted to...

Danone, Fonterra, Mead Johnson handed China infant formula price fixing fines

07-Aug-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

China has issued fines totalling RMB 669m ($110m, €82m) to six companies, including Mead Johnson Nutrition, Danone Dumex, and Fonterra, following an investigation into price fixing and suspected anti-monopoly law violations by infant formula manufacturers...

Contamination crisis

Crisis will harm New Zealand more than Fonterra

07-Aug-2013 By William Hao Wei Yang

With Fonterra’s contamination crisis unlikely to die down soon, the fall-out in China is likely to have more of a lingering impact on New Zealand’s continuing trade with the country than it will on Fonterra, say industry experts.

Contamination crisis

In pics: Questions asked about Fonterra's C. botulinum crisis timeline

06-Aug-2013 By RJ Whitehead

As Fonterra battles for its reputation in countries that have received batches of its whey protein concentrate contaminated with the C. botulinum bacterium, it is also facing a fight on the home front. Questions are already being asked about the speed...

Contamination crisis

China issues limited Fonterra ban, Russian reports rubbished

06-Aug-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Fonterra, the diary major at the centre of the C. botulinum scare concerning several batches of whey protein concentrate used to manufacture Nutricia’s Karicare infact formula, has confirmed that Chinese authorities have temporarily suspended the import...

Contamination crisis

China halts import of NZ baby powder following botulinum contamination

05-Aug-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Asia-Pacific health ministries are closely following developments following the release of a food safety warning by New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries before the weekend advising of instances of the Clostridium botulinum bacterium in several...

Pasteurisation rival given green light for Indian milk

01-Aug-2013 By RJ Whitehead

India’s food standards regulator has approved the use of SurePure’s proprietary liquid photopurification technology as an alternative process to thermal pasteurisation for milk and other dairy products. 

Candia moving into China with new milk retail format

30-Jul-2013

A French market leader for over 40 years, Candia has now moved into China to establish its own distribution network, which includes the opening of its first store, in Zhejiang province, to the south of Shanghai.

Pawar: Future of sustainable dairy in the hands of the private sector

29-Jul-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Private dairy companies must develop a fair and consistent strategy for procuring milk from farmers, Sharad Pawar, India’s powerful minister for agriculture and food processing, has warned.

Drought-hit Fonterra cuts 2013 profits forecast

25-Jul-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

Fonterra has lowered its profits forecast for fiscal year (FY) 2013 by almost NZ$80m (US$64m, €49m) to account for the impact of this year’s drought.

Formula register will help NZ crack down on false China-bound claims

25-Jul-2013 By RJ Whitehead

New Zealand’s legitimate infant formula exporters are gearing up for the introduction of a brand register that the country’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is expected to introduce next month for formula products exported to China.

Biostime amends Chinese infant formula distribution contracts amidst anti-trust probe

24-Jul-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

Chinese infant formula manufacturer Biostime has made amendments to the contracts it holds with distributors to delete terms that guarantee fixed prices and price floors that may violate Chinese anti-trust laws. 

Fonterra Light-Proof milk bottle escapes 'Worst Packaging Award' shame

23-Jul-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

Fonterra’s Light Proof milk bottle has narrowly avoided being named a finalist in the Unpackit ‘Worst Packaging Award’ category, despite receiving more than half of all the nominations made.

Fonterra latest to cut Chinese prices after price-fixing probe

17-Jul-2013 By Fiona Barry

Fonterra has slashed the cost of its Anmum maternal health products in China by 9%, making it the latest company to reduce its prices following the launch of a government investigation into suspected anti-trust law violations.

FrieslandCampina acquires ‘supporting’ stake in Synlait Milk

16-Jul-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

FrieslandCampina has acquired a 7.5% stake in New Zealand-based infant formula manufacturer Synlait Milk through an initial public offering (IPO) of shares by the company.