66 | T T Virginia Wright Young Co making a contribution Waiū Dairy is a partnership between 11 local iwi and a Japanese investor, Imanaka, represented in New Zealand by Cedenco Dairy. PRODUCTION Waiū Dairy Waiū Dairy was inaugurated in 2018 and its processing plant completed in August 2019, just in time for the global pandemic to take its toll on businesses around the world, and make it an unusually difficult time – especially for start-ups. Waiū Dairy is a partnership between 11 local iwi and a Japanese investor, Imanaka, represented in New Zealand by Cedenco Dairy. Their intention is to use the land in a way that actively generates returns for their shareholders, and to contribute more broadly to the local community by generating employment opportunities in the region, especially for those who live locally. Oksana Kahlenberg has been involved with Waiū Dairy since its inception, when she joined the team as its chief financial officer. Since March 2022, she has been the general manager, working with the board to lead what has become a flatter, easier structure than formerly. Another of their key focuses informed Waiū Dairy’s decision to locate the plant in Kawerau, explains Oksana. “The plant was built on land owned by one of the largest shareholders, Putauaki Trust. This location also gives the plant access to the geothermal steam it’s powered by, which means we use sustainable, renewable energy.” As of this season they buy their milk through Fonterra under the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act, and their cream comes from other dairy processors. They are expecting this to be their most successful season yet, reflecting a clearly thought-through business strategy designed to take them safely through whatever the future brings. Having its own regular customers around the world, Waiū Dairy isn’t looking to compete with the big players in the dairy industry, but rather to carry on as they are with a strong focus on customer service and delivering quality products made using green energy. “We’re starting to notice more and more that our customers want to be dealing with businesses who are mindful not only of the environment, but also of their people, and both of these are an important part of our own values, ” says Oksana Waiū Dairy’s core products are its high-quality milk protein concentrate (MPC), and its butter made using the Fritz Churn method, a traditional European cream-churning method dating back to the late 1800s. Working closely with customers in places like Australia and Asia means the company can innovate to meet their needs. “Our specialty MPC85 is highly regarded by our customers for its outstanding functionality, solubility and mixing characteristics, making it suitable for a wide range of applications,” Oksana says. “Our butter is very highly rated and this season we’re adding a few exciting products to our existing butter offerings without changing the product itself. “ We’re working with food services such as restaurants and hotels to bring them the butter they need in smaller, more manageable sizes so they’re not having to handle 25kgs at a time,” she says. With 53 staff, most of them local and many of whom have been there since the beginning, Waiū Dairy is pleased to have finally put the effects of the pandemic behind it, and to have various initiatives in place to underpin an increasingly positive outlook. ENGINEERED SWITCHBOARD SOLUTIONS 201 Lincoln Road, Henderson, Auckland 0610 Phone: +64 9 829 0710 • Email: info@mgenz.co.nz www .m g e n z . c o .n z Hilary Bullock Technical Sales Manager - ANZ +64 27 621 5327 hilary.bullock@kss-sep.com Drying solutions that turn protein into perfection. Visit www.relco.net to learn more
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=