Fonterra Darfield adds new shift to meet cream cheese demand
Strong global demand for our cream cheese has seen Fonterra’s Darfield site in Canterbury hire a full shift of new recruits as the team ramps up production.
Cream Cheese Plant Manager, Blake Aston says, “We have employed five new employees for the shift, and they’ll work alongside the three other shifts at the plant.
Liam and Blake at the Cream Cheese plant
“The team is seeing record monthly sales for cream cheese. Demand is predominately coming from China as we continue to see an increased interest in pasture-fed milk from New Zealand.”
The cream cheese is going into a range of different products, from cheese lollipops to traditional Chinese pastry like moon cakes.
“We have great flexibility here at the plant that enables us to dial up or down the firmness and consistency of cream cheese to meet customer preference and the great job our farmers are doing in delivering top quality milk.”
Blake says that with COVID-19 bringing uncertainty to the job market, it’s good Fonterra’s able to offer new opportunities for people looking for work.
One of those new employees is Liam Fitzgerald, who worked as an international pilot at Air New Zealand for the last 8 years until COVID-19 required him to make a change.
The team is seeing record monthly sales for cream cheese. Demand is predominately coming from China as we continue to see an increased interest in pasture-fed milk from New Zealand.
“About 15 years ago I worked for Fonterra up at Edgecumbe. Recently, when my flying career came to a halt unexpectedly, I spoke to my wife about returning to the dairy industry.
“I grew up rural in Whakatane and knew the culture and lifestyle of the industry would work for us as we have a young family.
“The opportunity came up in the Cream Cheese Plant and having spoken to a few people I was really excited to join the team. It’s a small team but a modern plant and a cool product that I’m looking forward to working with.”
Fonterra Darfield site was established in 2012 and employs more than 280 people.
Moon cake