Dawn blessing marks start of Fonterra’s new butter sheet build at Edgecumbe
Local iwi Ngāti Awa Ki Rangitaiki joined employees for a dawn blessing ceremony this week to mark the start of construction on Fonterra’s new $35 million pastry butter sheet expansion at Edgecumbe.
Edgecumbe Site Operations Manager, Lydia King, says it means a lot to have the local iwi carry out the ceremony.
“We are all excited about the activities and investment happening here at Edgecumbe. Our iwi representatives have whānau members who work at the site, so it’s meaningful to see the strong connections we have with the local community.”
Once complete, Edgecumbe’s pastry butter sheet capacity will double, helping the Co-op meet growing demand from China, Mexico and Southeast Asia for laminated bakery products, such as croissants and puff pastry.
The expansion supports regional employment, with the new line expected to create four new roles on site, alongside opportunities for local contractors during the build phase.
“This is a positive step forward for Edgecumbe, and it’s rewarding to see the benefits of the investment flowing through to our people and the local community,” says King.
This expansion is part of the Co-op's strategy to use its farmers’ milk in high value products that support growth and deliver strong returns for farmer shareholders.
This is the Co-operative’s fourth major investment to increase manufacturing capacity announced in the past 18 months, following the Clandeboye butter plant expansion, the Edendale UHT cream plant build and the Studholme advanced proteins hub build.
Our iwi representatives have whānau members who work at the site, so it’s meaningful to see the strong connections we have with the local community.
“These projects show our progress in building a more resilient and flexible manufacturing network that allows us to allocate more milk to foodservice and non‑reference ingredients products and strengthen the Co‑op’s product mix,” says King.
Construction is expected to take around 12 months, with the first product expected to come off the line in 2027.