Wednesday, 03 September 2025 16:25

Buttery prize

Written by Milking It

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OPINION: Westland Milk may have won the contract to supply butter to Costco NZ but Open Country Dairy is having the last laugh when it comes to cashing in on NZ grass-fed butter.

Open Country’s new automated butter plant began churning out butter last month.

And Milking It understands that the country’s second largest milk processor has already locked in a major customer – Costco Global in the US.

With Costco NZ – with turnover of around $360 million – buying its butter from Westland Milk in Hokitika, Open Country has gone for the big prize. Costco Global owns over 828 warehouse stores, mostly in the US, plus some in Canada and Mexico.

Owned by the Talley’s Group, Open Country Dairy butter could soon be appearing on Costco shelves in North America.

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