U.S. Dairy Farmers Form Venture with New Zealand

May 23, 2000

Dairy Farmers of America and the New Zealand Dairy Board have formed a joint venture, DairiConcepts, L.P., that will manufacture and market cheese and dairy ingredients for sophisticated applications in food processing. Those products include intense-flavored cheese ingredients, seasoning blends, enzyme modified cheeses and other dairy-based ingredients now under research and development.

DairiConcepts is a limited partnership with equal DFA and NZDB ownership and management. The new company will combine the resources of NZDB’s cheese technology and ingredients company, NZMP Key Ingredients, and the manufacturing and marketing resources of DFA.

The new company initally will market established product lines but soon offer new types of ingredients coming from expanded research and development operations. NZDB Chief Executive Warren Larsen said the arrangement enhances both organizations’ global market opportunities. "There are clear benefits for farmer shareholders both in the United States and New Zealand," he said.