NEW ZEALAND – Fonterra, the New Zealand-based dairy giant, is expanding its footprint in Europe with a state-of-the-art dairy facility located near Amsterdam.
This facility, Fonterra’s only one in Europe, plays a key role in the company’s strategy to produce high-value dairy products for international markets.
Opened in 2014, the Heerenveen facility operates as part of a 50:50 joint venture with Dutch cheese producer A-Ware.
A-Ware handles the sourcing and transportation of milk, while Fonterra processes the excess liquid whey from cheese production into protein powder and lactose products, which are in high demand across Europe.
Callum Lott, Fonterra’s manager for trade strategy, sustainability, and stakeholder affairs for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, highlighted the value of the partnership.
“This collaboration allows us to leverage A-Ware’s local supply chains and processing capabilities while extracting maximum value from the cheese-making by-products,” he said.
In addition to whey products, the joint venture produces UHT cream for export to China and Southeast Asia, further emphasizing Fonterra’s global market reach.
Fonterra’s regional office in Amsterdam, staffed by 67 professionals, manages operations and reinforces the company’s presence in Europe, supporting its broader strategy of focusing on value-added products in key international markets.
Meanwhile, Fonterra is also eyeing opportunities in China during the Mid-Autumn Festival, where mooncakes, a traditional Chinese pastry, may increasingly include butter.
Fonterra’s lamination butter sheets, produced at its Edgecumbe facility in New Zealand, have become popular for making soft and flaky pastries like mooncakes and egg tarts.
With demand for dairy-based ingredients rising in China, especially for mooncakes, Fonterra has seen a significant increase in exports of butter sheets, shipping over 8,300 tons last season.
Edgecumbe processes up to 3.7 million litres of milk per day during peak season, ensuring a steady supply to meet growing demand in China and Southeast Asia.
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