Farmers' call
OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.
The Bay of Plenty site first opened its doors in 1923 and has been at the heart of the community ever since.
The site lies right in the centre of the Rangitāiki Plains, which covers an area between Matata and Whakatane, extending from the coast to Kawerau.
It specialises in producing high-value products – anhydrous milk fat, casein and caseinates, whey protein concentrate, milk minerals and lipids. It’s one of only two sites in Aotearoa New Zealand that manufactures sodium caseinate for Fonterra’s customers to use in a variety of nutritional products.
Products from Edgecumbe are distributed to more than 53 markets globally and contribute significantly to Fonterra’s overall earnings. During peak milk season, Edgecumbe processes up to 3.7 million litres of milk every day.
Fonterra’s Edgecumbe operations manager, Allan Muggeridge, is proud of what the team, including many long serving and third generation employees, has achieved.
“Having the Edgecumbe site reach 100 years of operation is a remarkable achievement. Especially when we consider the obstacles that were overcome to reach this point.”
“We have seen more than our fair share of challenges over the years, including a couple of floods and a major earthquake. The continued operation of the site, even through those more difficult times, is a real testament to the resilience and strong character of the people who have kept it going over all these years.
“We are all extremely grateful for the hard work and clever foresight of the people that came before us, who shaped the site’s destiny into what it is today.
“Beyond just the people who have worked here, Edgecumbe site owes much of its success to the ongoing backing of the Edgecumbe community and in particular the local farmers. Without their support the site simply could not continue to operate.”
Alan Van Der Nagel, director New Zealand Manufacturing at Fonterra, says he’s proud of the hard work being done at the site and in the region.
“This milestone marks a significant achievement for the region. It is a testament to the hard work happening at Edgecumbe. The Edgecumbe team should be proud to be producing top-quality products that are sought after by customers around the world. I look forward to seeing what our people, farmers and the community will achieve together in the years ahead.”
The relationship the site has with the community helps make the site what it is, according to Tony Maclean, general manager Central North Island.
“The relationship with the local and surrounding communities is very important. A business cannot survive for such a long period without being a good social partner and the site has a strong history of working together with the community, particularly in times of adversity.”
The Edgecumbe site celebrated with a public open day on the 16th of September, where farmers, business owners and the community visited the site to learn about what is produced there.
