Fonterra celebrates innovation at the inaugural Horizon Awards
Leadership in dairy innovation and science is a key pillar of Fonterra’s strategy.
With a proud history of pioneering breakthroughs in dairy proteins, creams and more, the Co-operative has consistently set global benchmarks.
Komal Mistry-Mehta, Chief Innovation & Brand Officer, congratulates one of the awarded teams
Last week Fonterra held the inaugural Horizon Awards to honour innovation throughout the value chain and to acknowledge employees who have demonstrated creativity, ingenuity and forward-thinking.
At the awards event, Komal Mistry-Mehta, Chief Innovation and Brand Officer, spoke about how fostering innovative thinking across the business is helping the Co-op to deliver higher returns to shareholders.
“The Fonterra Horizon Innovation Awards celebrate the exceptional talent and collaboration that drives innovation across our business and contribute to Fonterra's success,” says Mistry-Mehta.
“From product development to supply chain efficiency, our teams work hard to add value to our farmers' milk and drive the Co-operative's success. The purpose of these awards is to celebrate our innovative culture across the enterprise.
The Fonterra Horizon Innovation Awards celebrate the exceptional talent and collaboration that drives innovation across our business and contribute to Fonterra's success.
“This year's awards have shone a spotlight on initiatives that exemplify the Co-op's commitment to innovation and impact these efforts are making in our global markets. These initiatives are driving transformative changes, reinforcing our position as a leader in the industry.”
Product Innovation Excellence Award:
Ratthi 3 in 1 Tea: The Sri Lankan team excelled in leveraging strong consumer insights and innovative flavour customisation to enhance the tea drinking experience through dairy incorporation.
Challenge Award:
Anchor Whipping Cream Manufacturing & Ultra-heat Treatment (UHT) Run Length Extension: This award was earned by a team that developed new processing methods and demonstrated an exceptional "make it happen" attitude.
Innovation Across the Supply Chain Award:
Butter Packaging Fault Detection AI System: The team ensured excellence from grass to glass, leveraging AI to enhance every step of the supply chain. Their commitment to a customer-first approach was evident as they went above and beyond to meet and exceed customer expectations.
Research and Development Achievement Award:
Theepan Mahendran: Is an example of deep expertise in action in both Research and Development. This individual stood out by overcoming significant technical challenges and paving the way in an area where industry leadership seemed least possible.
Innovation and Collaboration Excellence Award:
Cheese School / University: Cheese School and Cheese University boost local team capabilities in Greater China markets, driving the success of the Greater China cheese strategy.
Farmer Share Trading Platform on Sharesies: Fonterra Sharesies partnership has enhanced share trading for farmer owners, offering features like mobile trading and price notifications.
Execution and Commercialisation Excellence:
Nestlé & Mars Sustainable Sourcing Partnership: As the Co-op works towards its emissions reduction targets and in turn help customers to achieve theirs, this project involved innovative collaborations with Nestlé and Mars where additional funds they provided were able to be used to support Fonterra farmers with their on-farm sustainability improvements.
