Open Country’s Butter Debut Sparks Dairy Innovation
Source: dairynews.today
Open Country Dairy launches its first commercial butter line at Waharoa, New Zealand, forecasting a robust $10.70/kgMS payout.
Open Country Dairy, New Zealand’s second-largest milk processor, is set to begin its inaugural commercial butter production over the next two months at its Waharoa facility in Waikato.
This initiative represents a significant milestone aligning with strong global demand and unprecedented butter prices. The launch forms part of a larger multi-million dollar capital investment at Waharoa, which includes upgrades to the whey processing plant and main dryer. CEO Mark de Lautour emphasized the strategic significance of harnessing both proteins and fats onsite, enhancing the yield from existing cheese operations and responding to the global preference for natural dairy fats over plant-based alternatives.
The company’s confidence in market fundamentals is clear, as it forecasts a robust $10.70 per kgMS payout. Recruiting more farmers across its supply zones, Open Country strives to expand its capacity, now servicing approximately 1,100 dairy suppliers and onboarding 70 new farms.
This initiative represents a significant milestone aligning with strong global demand and unprecedented butter prices. The launch forms part of a larger multi-million dollar capital investment at Waharoa, which includes upgrades to the whey processing plant and main dryer. CEO Mark de Lautour emphasized the strategic significance of harnessing both proteins and fats onsite, enhancing the yield from existing cheese operations and responding to the global preference for natural dairy fats over plant-based alternatives.
The company’s confidence in market fundamentals is clear, as it forecasts a robust $10.70 per kgMS payout. Recruiting more farmers across its supply zones, Open Country strives to expand its capacity, now servicing approximately 1,100 dairy suppliers and onboarding 70 new farms.
