Yili announces opening of stage two development at Glenavy
Yili announces opening of stage two development at Glenavy
dairy plant, more jobs to come
25 March 2017
Global
dairy giant Yili Group today announces the opening of its
stage two development of its state-of-the-art Oceania Dairy
production plant at Glenavy, South Canterbury.
The
investment in Yili Oceania Dairy, including a new Ultra High
Temperature (UHT) plant, infant formula canning line,
blending facilities, a whole milk powder dryer, and
facilities to manufacture UHT milk products and lactoferrin,
takes total investment in Oceania to more than $600
million.
The completion of the stage two development will
provide a significant economic boost to the South Canterbury
region, including for farmers and milk suppliers. Yili is
developing a set-price mechanism for the price of milk
whereby the milk price is guaranteed to improve year-on-year
cash flow management for farmers.
The company is actively
working with farmers in the district to augment its milk
supply to meet its growing production needs. Presently,
there are 67 farmers who supply milk to Oceania
Dairy.
Yili Oceania Dairy is also launching a major
recruitment drive having boosted employment at the plant
during stage two development. Currently more than 90% of the
existing staff are local residents. The company is committed
to employing all workshop operators, laboratory staff,
warehouse managers and administrative staff from the local
community following stage two completion.
It is also
plans to work with regional economic development agencies to
promote local economic development.
For its China market,
Yili Group also today announced it is launching a new
premium PRO-KIDO Ruihu infant formula.
Yili Group
Chairman, Mr Pan Gang, said his company was fully committed
to New Zealand, as evidenced by the significant and ongoing
investment in Glenavy.
Yili has also signed a memorandum
of understanding with Lincoln University and Oceania
Dairy’s research and development manager Dr Philip
Wescombe is now based at the university to assist in the
establishment of a new research and development
centre.
“We consider Lincoln to be one of the finest
agricultural tertiary providers in the world and we think
this joint venture will generate innovation to the benefit
of not only Yili group but the wider New Zealand dairy
sector,” Mr Pan said.
Dairy trade is an important part
of the economic partnership between China and New Zealand.
In 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping and NZ Prime Minister
John Key opened the Yili Oceania Dairy production plant and
stage one investment was completed the same
year.
ENDS