Tatua Dairy Company, formally known as The Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company Limited (trading as Tatua), is an independent, farmer-owned dairy co-operative based in Tatuanui, in the Matamata-Piako District of the Waikato Region, New Zealand. It is the oldest independent dairy company in New Zealand and the only remaining New Zealand dairy co-operative that has never been part of any merger throughout its history.
Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Co-operative company |
| Industry | Food manufacturing, dairy |
| Founded | 16 June 1914 |
| Headquarters | 3434 State Highway 26, Tatuanui, Morrinsville 3374, New Zealand |
| Key people | Stephen Allen (Chair), Brendhan Greaney (CEO) |
| Products | Specialised dairy ingredients, nutritional ingredients, flavours, bionutrients, consumer and foodservice dairy products, bulk ingredients |
| Revenue (FY2024) | NZ$495 million (underlying revenue) |
| Shareholder farms | 101 |
| Employees | Over 400 (across NZ, Japan, China, USA) |
| Website | tatua.com |
History
Tatua was established on 16 June 1914, when seven directors signed a memorandum of association to form the dairy company. The first ten suppliers delivered milk to the factory on 24 September 1914. By 1915, the factory had tripled in size to accommodate 30 shareholders.
Key milestones in the company's history include:
- 1922: Electricity installed in the factory.
- 1926: Motor-trucks replaced horse and cart for milk transport.
- 1948: New boiler and three roller dryers installed for milk powder production.
- 1964: Edible casein plant opened.
- 1972: First whey protein dried at Tatua.
- 1979: Launch of Dairy Whip aerosol cream, the first product of its kind in New Zealand.
- 1991: Lactoferrin developed and manufacturing began.
- 2001: Following the deregulation of the New Zealand dairy industry and the merger that formed Fonterra, Tatua shareholders voted to remain an independent co-operative.
- 2003: Tatua Flavours business launched.
- 2004: Tatua Japan subsidiary office established; Bionutrients business launched.
- 2015: Tatua USA and Tatua Shanghai (China) subsidiary offices established; new D3 infant-grade dryer commissioned.
- 2024: Foods plant expansion (Foods II) commenced with an NZ$85 million investment, the largest single investment in the company's history.
Independence
Tatua is notable for its long-standing independence within the New Zealand dairy industry. While New Zealand had over 500 dairy co-operatives in the 1930s, Tatua is the only one that has never participated in any merger. In 2001, when the two largest co-operatives merged with the New Zealand Dairy Board to form Fonterra, Tatua's shareholders voted to remain independent.
Operations
Tatua processes milk from 101 shareholder farms, all located within a 12-kilometre radius of the processing factory at Tatuanui. In the 2023/24 season, the company processed 15.16 million kilograms of qualifying milksolids from shareholders, supplemented by additional milksolids procured from other processors under contractual arrangements. Total production exceeded 42,000 metric tonnes.
Approximately 89% of Tatua's products are exported. The company has subsidiary offices in Japan (established 2004), China (Shanghai, established 2015), and the USA (Pennsylvania, established 2015), along with distribution partners worldwide.
Products
Tatua's product portfolio includes:
- Nutritional ingredients: Specialty proteins, protein hydrolysates, whey protein concentrate (WPC), caseinates, lactoferrin
- Flavour ingredients: Dairy flavours for food and beverage manufacturing
- Bionutrients: Peptones for microbial nutrition
- Foodservice and consumer products: Dairy Whip aerosol cream, specialty cream products, anhydrous milkfat (AMF)
- Bulk ingredients: Caseinates, whey protein concentrate, anhydrous milkfat
Governance
Tatua is registered under the Co-operative Companies Act 1996 and the Companies Act 1993. The Board of Directors consists of between six and nine members, including elected farmer-shareholder directors and appointed independent directors. Voting rights are based on qualifying milksolids supplied, with no shareholder casting more than 5% of total votes.
Financial Performance (FY2024)
- Total underlying revenue: NZ$495 million
- Group profit before payout and tax: NZ$12.20 per kilogram of qualifying milksolids
- Cash payout to shareholders: NZ$10.50 per kilogram of qualifying milksolids
- Total assets: NZ$393 million
- Capital expenditure: NZ$35.7 million
Sustainability
Tatua operates a comprehensive on-farm responsible farming programme called Tatua 360, which covers environmental stewardship, animal care, farm systems, milk quality, and people welfare. The company has received certification through Toitū Envirocare's carbonreduce programme and is independently assessed by EcoVadis for sustainability performance.
Quality Certifications
Tatua holds certifications including ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, and is registered with the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) as a dairy exporter. It was the first dairy company in New Zealand to achieve FSSC 22000 certification (2011).
