First Fonterra milk packs head south

The cases of individual milk packs will wait at Fonterra's distribution centre in Christchurch before being sent to Anchor milk depots in Southland and Otago and then dropped off at schools for drinking this month.

Fonterra group general manager global cooperative social responsibility Carly Robinson says the Southland and Otago regions are the first to start drinking free school milk as part of the nationwide rollout.

"It's great to have another two New Zealand companies getting behind this exciting programme and helping to bring free nutritious milk to Kiwi kids."

Daily Freight, part of the Mainfreight Group, is providing discounted freight rates for the transportation of the milk throughout New Zealand.

Pacifica, the country's leading carrier of domestic sea freight, will provide discounted shipping to move containers of milk from Auckland to Christchurch for all participating South Island primary schools. The company's general manager sales and marketing, Richard Allan, says up to four containers a week will be shipped when the programme is fully underway.

"We are very proud to be working with Fonterra to deliver milk to New Zealand's primary school children."

Shayne Porter, business development manager for Mainfreight, is pleased that Daily Freight and Pacifica are able to support the Fonterra Milk for Schools programme in this way.

"It's great to be involved with Fonterra doing something good for Kiwi kids, and it aligns well with existing programmes where we provide assistance to local schools and communities."

The Fonterra Milk for Schools national rollout is starting in Southland and Otago, with Christchurch following a few weeks after. It's expected that by the end of Term 1 2014 all schools who want to take part in the programme will have access to milk every school day.