Fonterra and Nestle open $45 million dairy distribution center in Brazil
2013-12-23 16:35:15
More than 200,000 metric tonnes of dairy products, destined for delivery across Brazil, are expected to pass through the distribution center per year.
New Zealand’s Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited and Nestle, through joint venture Dairy Partners Americas (DPA), have opened a dairy distribution centre in Araras, Brazil.
The $45 million (NZD) facility has been built on the same site as the Dairy Partners Americas’ Araras factory which makes a variety of chilled dairy products including yogurts, desserts and cream cheese.
More than 200,000 metric tonnes of dairy products, destined for delivery across Brazil, are expected to pass through the distribution center per year.
Combining the production and cooling site with the distribution facility will offer considerable energy savings, reducing the amount of diesel required for transport by approximately 150,000 litres and saving 400 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Fonterra CEO Theo Spierings, who was present at the opening of the center, said, "Brazil is an important market for Fonterra. Rapid urban growth and a focus on healthy nutrition are driving demand for dairy products and we continue to invest significantly in the region through our partnership with Nestle and by developing selected milk pools."
"The new center enables us to lower distribution costs and move product quickly across the country. And it is leading the way in sustainability using efficient systems, reducing gas emissions and waste, and increasing recycling and the safety of our people," he said.
Fonterra’s Latin American footprint drives over 900,000 metric tonnes of volume per year and $3.4 billion (NZD) in revenue from consumer dairy, foodservice and high value ingredients. As well as extending Fonterra’s business portfolio, the DPA partnership also enables the cooperative to work with dairy farms in the region to improve milk quality, safety and sustainability.
Set up in 2003, Dairy Partners Americas is the largest dairy company in South America, purchasing and processing some two billion litres of milk each year in Brazil alone.
DPA produces ingredients and consumer products with strong brands in the liquid and chilled dairy market throughout Latin America.
The alliance incorporates two businesses: A consumer chilled and liquid products business and a milk procurement and milk powder and ingredients manufacturing business.