Fonterra cuts time to get UHT products to China by two-thirds

Fonterra’s project to align and enhance its supply chain from New Zealand to mainland China has seen a reduction in the time it takes to get UHT products to market from more than 100 days to 34.

The New Zealand dairy cooperative says this makes Fonterra UHT the freshest imported UHT milk in China.

Robert Spurway, chief operating officer global operations, says time spent shipping and transporting products can make a difference to taste. 

The reduction in lead-time took Fonterra just under four months from start to finish, with the supply chain streamlined, including production, sailing time and schedules, and customs clearance.

Spurway said that processes that delayed products from leaving Fonterra’s sited were analyzed and refined, and waiting times at ports have also been minimized.

Fonterra says it has also worked closely with regulators in China to get a deeper understanding of how it can better meet customs requirements to make sure there is no hold up on arrival.

With UHT becoming increasingly popular in China, Spurway says the improvement has been well received by customers.