Dairy companies in joint venture

Press, 31 October 1981, Page 19

Dairy companies in joint venture

As part of an over-all plan to reduce duplication of distribution systems and minimise inter-island freight costs, three dairy companies have signed a joint venture agreement in Christchurch. The New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company, Ltd,’of Hamilton, manufacturers and marketers of Anchor brand products; Metropolitan Milk (Chch) Ltd, a Christchurch town milk company: and the Tai Tapu Central Co-operative Dairy Company, • Ltd; Christchurch's major dairy product distributor and manufacturer of Fernleaf butter, have joined forces in the cultured foods field.

Anchor yoghurts and cottage cheese will be manufac-

tured in Christchurch by Metropolitan Milk. Anchor Foods, Ltd, will market the products and Tai Tapu will distribute them to all food outlets in Canterbury north of the Rakaia River. Tai Tapu is one of the largest distributors of dairy products in the area delivering through more than 750 retail outlets.

The co-operation between the three companies is the first in a series of moves to ensure a greater range of milk and dairy products, locally manufactured, are available to South Island consumers.

Tai Tapu will also take over the distribution of Anchor cheddar cheese and Royal Tasman camembert cheese from next week.