Chinese strategy
OPINION: Fonterra may have sold its dairy farms in China but the appetite for collaboration with the country remains strong.
All hands are on deck today at Fonterra Brands New Zealand's (FBNZ) Takanini site as the first Fonterra Milk for Schools packs make their way down the production line and into the coolstore to wait for their ride to school.
FBNZ Business Manager Beverages, Craig Irwin, says the production run has been much anticipated by the team who are eager to get the programme up and running.
"We often have new products on the line, but they never create as much excitement as the Anchor packs' debut has today. Fonterra Milk for Schools is an incredible initiative and we're all honoured to be involved."
So far 81 Northland primary schools have signed up and are awaiting the first delivery of Anchor milk, due next month.
"The first production run is a milestone we've all been looking forward to and the programme launch is definitely the next. With the success of today's run we're set to have milk in schools on March 19 so Northland students can plan for an extra serving of nutrition from that day forward.
"Milk is a fundamental building block of good health and I'm thrilled that we're doing what we can to make it a part of our kids' diets," says Irwin.
Fonterra will be monitoring the Northland pilot over the first three terms to establish how to best introduce Fonterra Milk for Schools to primary schools nationwide and iron out practical details such as getting the milk to schools, serving it cool and recycling the packaging.
To find out more or register a school please visit www.fonterramilkforschools.com.
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