Fonterra, New Zealand’s leading dairy cooperative, is investing $150 million in a new cool store at its Whareroa site in Taranaki. The facility, covering three rugby fields, will store 26,000 tonnes of cheese and enhance the site’s storage capacity by 5,000 tonnes. Construction starts next month and is expected to create local jobs and support Fonterra’s supply chain.
Fonterra, New Zealand’s leading dairy cooperative, has announced plans to construct a $150 million cool store at its Whareroa site in Taranaki. This new facility, which will span the size of three rugby fields (19,000 square meters), is set to significantly boost the cooperative’s storage capabilities and enhance its supply chain resilience.
Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell emphasized that this investment aligns with the company’s strategy to create value across its entire operations.
“Our strong balance sheet is enabling us to invest in future growth and support the ongoing delivery of our strategy, These investments are crucial for expanding our ingredients and foodservice businesses, and prioritizing these channels to generate more value for our co-op.”
-Miles Hurrell, CEO of Fonterra
The new cool store will have the capacity to store approximately 26,000 tonnes of cheese, increasing the site’s storage capacity by around 5,000 tonnes. This facility is expected to play a vital role in the resilience of Fonterra’s supply chain, given that the Whareroa site processes up to 12.5 million liters of milk daily and produces 30% of the cooperative’s cheese, along with other products such as butter, casein, and powders.
Fonterra’s Chief Operating Officer Anna Palairet noted the significance of this investment. “These are substantial investments that will greatly impact the co-op and provide long-term benefits to our farmer shareholders and unit holders,” Palairet said.
Construction of the cool store will begin next month and will be carried out in two phases to ensure the existing building remains operational. The project is forecasted to create local job opportunities and is expected to take approximately three years to complete.
