New Zealand-based diary co-operative Fonterra is set to invest $100m in establishing a new ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk processing plant at its Waitoa site in Waikato.
The move is expected to allow the co-operative to meet growing demand for UHT products in Asia.
Fonterra chief executive officer Theo Spierings said that the new plant will increase the company's UHT milk production to 100% in the next few years.
"The plant will include five new UHT lines that will produce a range of products including UHT white milk and UHT cream for the foodservice sector," Spierings added.
"Products from the new plant will be bound for Asia markets and that will allow us to concentrate all our domestic UHT production - including Fonterra Milk for Schools - at Takanini in Auckland."
The company also plans to enter into winter milk contracts with local farmers to supply milk to the plant throughout the year.
