A Year of Delivery for Fonterra
Fonterra’s 2026 financial year was a year of delivery, with record volumes of milk collected, processed and shipped by the co-op.
FONTERRA IS "very confident" with its legal position in the Danone case and has budgeted just $11 million, says Lukas Paravicini, chief financial officer.
The $11 million set aside in the Danone law suit is what it views as its legal obligation in the contract, Paravicini said today at the release of its half-year result.
"We are very confident with our legal position and we will defend that position vigorously and at this stage we do not see the need for any further provisions under the legal contractual obligation."
Danone has previously indicated lost sales from precautionary food safety recall of whey protein concentrate supplied by Fonterra cost the company at least $500 million.
Chief executive Theo Spierings said today Fonterra would be happy to have Danone back as a customer.
"Danone is a very key customer, it is very unfortunate we went through the 'event'. There's two parties involved here – two parties with different opinions."
He says they would be open to a commercial discussion with Danone at all times. "But there is a legal situation ... so we are not going to talk about it here right now," he told a press conference at the Auckland's head office.
But on the commercial side they have an approach of "an open line like any customer", he said.
Fonterra’s 2026 financial year was a year of delivery, with record volumes of milk collected, processed and shipped by the co-op.
OPINION: The Government's decision to reinstate agriculture and horticultural science as a standalone subject from Year 11 is the right one.
Dairy farmers, still holding onto their Fonterra shares despite switching milk supply elsewhere or exiting the industry, now face a stricter share sell-down requirement.
Hamilton-based agritech company Aimer Farming has completed a $3 million capital raise to support its next stage of growth, including a beef farming product due to launch in 2027.
When dairy manager Miriam Lauridsen learned the farm, she was joining held weekly health and safety meetings, she initially thought that was “a bit over the top”. Experiencing that culture changed her mind.
Nominations are open for the 2027 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year Award.

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