Open Country opens butter plant
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Mark de Lautour takes over on April 1. He replaces Steve Koekemoer, who becomes the new chief operating officer of Talley’s Group, the parent company of Open Country and meat processor Affco.
De Lautour is presently general manager sales and marketing at Affco.
Koekemoer will still play a key role in Open Country operations. He joins the milk processor’s board as executive director.
“This has been planned and prepared for some time to ensure a smooth transition for the business,” he says.
“As part of my new role, I will join the board of Open Country as an executive director and continue to support the business through the change and going forward. Open Country’s team is very strong and I expect great things in future.”
Open Country operates four milk plants - in Waharoa, Horotiu, Wanganui and Awarua.
