Increased output by Dairy Co.

Press, 4 September 1982, Page 20

Increased output by Dairy Co.

PA Hamilton The New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company, which processed more than a third of New Zealand’s milkflow, increased its turnover 31.5 per cent to more than $605 million in the past season, said the chairman. Mr Jim Graham, at the annual meeting. A total of 276,328 tonnes of milk was handled, an increase. of 26,300 tonnes. The manufacture of butter was substantially increased because the making of anhydrous milkfat manufacture stopped after the national conversion of United States surplus butter-into anhydrous milkfat (butter oil). Butter manufacture was up almost 10,000 tonnes at 95,053 tonnes on the previous season. There were also increased quantities of cheese and milkpowders, but casein pro-

i . duction fell slightly. Mr . Graham said. During the season four i new plants worth $llO million were commissioned • — equivalent to a third of i the company's processing capacity. All teething prob- ’ lems in the new plants had i been successfully overcome, except for the Tirau casein complex. Mr Graham said he had warned that the problems associated with the new plants could well lead to some deterioration in the - competitiveness of the company with neighbouring companies. “Although this has turned out to be the case, I consider the end result was better than anticipated and that we can all be pleased with the final outcome.” ' (The company’s total payout was 338 c a kg milkfat - the lowest in the Waikato.)