Mozzarella cheese made at Fonterra’s new Stanhope, Northern Victoria, New Zealand, plant will soon be topping pizzas at restaurants in China, bringing Fonterra’s mozzarella production back to Australia for the first time since 2013.

“New Zealand-made Fonterra cheese is already topping more than half the pizzas made in China, and now we will be sending our Australian-made mozzarella as our customers just can’t get enough of it,” says René Dedoncker, Fonterra Australia’s managing director. “In China, the growth in Western-style foodservice outlets has meant more opportunities for Chinese people to try cheese, and many are developing a taste for it, particularly on pizza. The market potential is enormous.”

Jared and Courtney Ireland run a 450-cow dairy farm in Lockington, Northern Victoria. Their fresh milk is supplied to Fonterra’s Stanhope plant, and will be used to make mozzarella destined for China. 

“With Stanhope’s new cheese plant coming online, positive news like this gives us confidence in a strong, sustainable future for dairy in Australia,” says Jared.

The $140 million plant will open later in August.