Such is the scarcity of quality baby formula in parts of Asia, parents have branded Australian dairy products as “white gold”.
To tap into this growing consumer base, Au Lait Australia and Nature One Dairy announced plans to build a milk formula factory in Toowoomba, taking advantage of the nearby Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport.
Construction will soon start on the multi-million-dollar facility, which will use domestic and interstate milk to create formula, UHT milk, milk powder and other products for the local and international market.
“The first stage is the $35 million infant formula manufacturing facility with a capacity of 30 million tins a year, which will start production from about April next year,” Au Lait Australia spokesman Steve Laracy said.
Mr Laracy said although milk supply would initially come from local farmers, the Toowoomba Integrated Milk Project (TIMP) would also build its own freestall dairy farm to supply half the milk needed for the factory.
Demand for infant formula from China has grown by a quarter every year since the 2008 melamine contamination that led to tens of thousands of Chinese babies falling ill and six deaths.
It triggered a huge demand for “safe” Australian products and a booming “grey market” of products being bought and resold online.
TIMP will also produce geriatric formula to address the world’s ageing population, a market it believes will grow considerably in the next 10 years.
Source: CourierMail
Link: http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/au-lait-australia-and-nature-one-dairy-to-build-a-milk-formula-factory-in-toowoomba/news-story/5b3f215f04a19538f7ef82155812db84